Objective:To investigate the effects and the differences of the four(3 categories)glycyrrhizin drugs in protecting human hepatocytes(L-02)from the injury of galactosamine(D-GalN)and carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)

and to screen a better one for clinical application.Methods:The cultured L-02 were pre-treated with compound ammonium glycyrrhizin(CAG)

compound glycyrrhizin(CG)

diammonium glycyrrihizinate(DG)and magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate(MI)

respectively

for protecting these cells from the injury made with CCl4 or D-GalN.Then

the liver cell growth status were observed

and the AST and LDH enzyme activity in the cultural supernatant were determined

and cellular glutathione(GSH)content in the cultural supernatant were tested.All the values above were analyzed to compare the protective effects of the four glycyrrhizin drugs.Results:At the concentration of 1mg/ml

the four glycyrrhizin drugs could improve the survival rate of cells

and significantly inhibit release of AST and LDH induced by D-GalN or CCl4.Moreover

the inhibition effect of CAG on AST release induced by D-GalN was significantly(P<0.05)better than that of CG

DG and MI

and the inhibition effects of CAG on AST and LDH release induced by CCl4 were significantly(P<0.05)better than those of CG

DG and MI.The inhibition effects of CG on AST and LDH release induced by D-GalN were significantly(P<0.05) better than that of MI.At the Concentration of 1 mg/ml

the four glycyrrhizin drugs could increase the decreased cell mitochondrial membrane potential caused by D-GalN or CCl4.These four glycyrrhizin drugs could significantly inhibit the intracellular GSH abatement induced by D-GalN or CCl4.Of which

CAG had the most significant effect(P<0.05)

and CG was better than MI(P<0.05).Conclusions:At the concentration of 1 mg/ml

the four glycyrrhizin drugs have protective effects on the D-GalN or CCl4 injured human hepatocytes.The mechanism of these protective effects may be increasing of the intracellular GSH abatement.Among the four glycyrrhizin drugs

CAG has the most significant effect for hepatocytes

and the effects were reduced in the order of CG

DG

and MI.