Table 1 Microscopic observation on protective and preventive effects of berberine against CCl₄-induced acute liver damage in rats (n = 8).

Normal

0.6 (0.3)

0.3 (0.2)

1.3 (0.3)

0.5 (0.1)

0.7 (0.3)

2.2 (0.6)

1.2 (0.3)

CCl₄

5.5 (1.2)**

4.8 (0.4) **

0.3 (0.2) **

5.7 (1.9) **

5.5 (1.5) **

0.4 (0.2) **

4.7 (0.9)^##

Post-treated with berberine

80 mg/kg

3.2 (1.6) ^##

2.5 (0.7) ^##

1.7 (0.3) ^##

2.2 (0.4) ^##

2.7 (1.1) ^##

1.2 (0.5) ^##

3.0 (1.3) ^##

120 mg/kg

1.7 (1.3)^##

1.8 (0.2) ^##

1.7 (0.5) ^##

1.6 (0.8) ^##

1.8 (0.2) ^##

2.1 (0.6) ^##

1.8 (0.9) ^##

160 mg/kg

1.4 (0.9) ^##

1.2 (0.4) ^##

1.4 (0.4) ^##

1.2 (0.5) ^##

1.1 (0.4) ^##

1.5 (0.8) ^##

1.1 (0.8) ^##

Pre-treated with berberine

120 mg/kg

2.1 (1.3) ^##

2.3 (1.6) ^##

1.0 (0.7) ^##

2.0 (1.4) ^##

1.5 (0.6) ^##

2.5 (0.4) ^##

2.8 (1.4) ^##