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Planta Med 2002; 68(6): 510-514
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32569
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Hepatoprotective and Therapeutic Effects ofTetramethylpyrazine on Acute Econazole-Induced Liver Injury

Chi-Feng Liu1, 4 , Chun-Ching Lin2 , Lean-Teik Ng3 , Song-Chow Lin1
  • 1Medical Research Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
  • 2Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
  • 3Tajen Institute of Technology, Ping-Tung, Taiwan
  • 4National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan
Further Information

Publication History

July 16, 2001

February 24, 2002

Publication Date:
01 July 2002 (online)

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Abstract

2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is well known as a true calcium antagonist. The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective and therapeutic effects of TMP on acute econazole-induced liver injury. The hepatological effect of various concentrations of TMP was first assessed by the biochemical assays of SGOT and SGPT and then by hepatohistological microscopic examination. The dose-response relationship of liver injury induced by various doses of econazole was observed simultaneously from serum biochemical assay of SGOT and SGPT, and also from hepatohistological microscopic examination, by determination of the hepatoprotective effects of various concentrations of TMP on SGOT and SGPT elevation induced by a hepatotoxic dose of econazole (300 mg/kg). The inhibitory effect of various concentrations of TMP or vitamin E (positive control, 0.5 mM in vitro, 0.69 mM in vivo) on FeCl2-induced (in vitro) or econazole-induced (in vivo) lipid peroxidation was also investigated. The superoxide scavenging activity of various concentrations of TMP in econazole-damaged rat liver homogenate was assessed by the cytochrome C reduction method. Results showed that the hepatoprotective effect of TMP might be, at least in part, due to its inhibitory ability on membrane lipid peroxidation and free radical formation, or due to its free radical scavenging ability. Improvement of serum transaminases and MDA levels in rat liver homogenate, hepatohistological microscopic examination, and assessment of free radical scavenging activity by the cytochrome C reduction method were used to detect hepatoprotective and therapeutic effects of TMP on acute econazole-induced liver injury.

Abbreviations

TMP:tetramethylpyrazine

MDA:malonic dialdehyde

SGOT:serum aspartate transaminase

SGPT:serum alanine transaminase

Key words

Tetramethylpyrazine - lipid peroxidation - superoxide scavenging - cytochrome C

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Song-Chow Lin,Ph. D. 

Professor of Pharmacology

Department of Medicine

Taipei Medical University

250, Wu-hsing Street

Taipei

Taiwan, R.O.C.

Phone: +886-2-27361661 EXT.3196(O)

Fax: +886-2-27253536(H)

Email: songchow@tmu.edu.tw