Basic Research
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2005; 11(12): 1764-1768
Published online Mar 28, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i12.1764
Protective effects of 5,4’-dihydroxy-3’,5’-dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone on experimental hepatic injury
Dong-Hui Xu, Xue-Ting Mei, Ying Chen, Yan-Mei Li, Jun-Yi Lv, Shi-Bo Xu
Dong-Hui Xu, Xue-Ting Mei, Ying Chen, Yan-Mei Li, Shi-Bo Xu, Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Marine Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, China
Jun-Yi Lv, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 30170105
Correspondence to: Dr. Dong-Hui Xu, Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Marine Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, Guangdong Province, China. lsdb@zsu.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-20-84113651
Received: September 13, 2004
Revised: September 14, 2004
Accepted: December 3, 2004
Published online: March 28, 2005
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the pharmacological effects of rice flavone (5,4’-dihydroxy-3’,5’-dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone, RF) separated from panicle-differentiating to flowing rice on rat experimental hepatic injury.

METHODS: Models of rat acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration, rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, injury of primary cultured rat hepatocytes induced by CCl4, respectively, were established. After treated with RF, content of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin (Alb), hyaluronic acid (HA), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured and liver tissue was observed pathologically by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Effects of RF on pathological changes, function index, enzyme of scavenging free radicals and blood rheology were evaluated.

RESULTS: In model of rat acute hepatic injury induced by CCl4, RF can significantly decrease the contents of serum ALT, AST, increase the content of Alb, improve the dropsy and fat denaturalization of hepatocytes. In model of rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, RF can inhibit the increase of HA, Hyp and whole blood viscosity, and improve the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, and inauricular microcirculation.

CONCLUSION: RF has apparent protective effects on hepatic injury by increasing activity of GSH-Px and SOD, scavenging free radicals produced by CCl4, reducing blood viscosity, and improving microcirculation and blood supply.

Keywords: 5,4’-Dihydroxy-3’,5’-dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone; Hepatic injury; CCl4; Free radicals; Blood viscosity; Microcirculation