Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of Panax Notoginseng saponins (PNGS) on rat liver during cold
preservation.
Methods Using isolated perfusion of rat liver model (IPRL), Fura 2 method was used to measur the concentration of calcium ion in hepatic cells which had been
preserved in DMEM solution with different concentration of PNGS added and cold preserved for 2 hours. Liver function, metabolic products of oxygen free radicals, energy substance and aucount of biliary flow as well as morphological study were measured from liver tissue which had been cold preserved in lactate riuges’s solution containing different dosages of PNGS for 24 hours and 30 minutes reperfusion.Results The contents of intracellur calcium of the rat hepatocytes,MDA, AST, ALT, LDH were lower than those in the control group,but SOD, ATP, TAN, EC and bile production were higher than those in the control group( P <0.01).During 200-600 mg,the protective effects of the PNGS were correlated with the dosage and manifest dosage dependence( P <0.01),800-1000 mg were not significant( P >0.05). Conclusion PNGS relieve the injury of the rat liver during cold
preservation. The mechanism might through inhibition calcium overload, improve the energy metabolism, play a role against free radical injury realize.