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Planta Med 1998; 64(1): 5-7
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-957355
Papers
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Kaikasaponin III and Soyasaponin I, Major Triterpene Saponins of Abrus cantoniensis, act on GOT and GPT: Influence on Transaminase Elevation of Rat Liver Cells Concomitantly Exposed to CCl4 for One Hour1

Hidea Miyao2 , Tomonori Arao2 , Manabu Udayama2 , Junei Kinjo2 , Toshihiro Nohara2
  • 2Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
1 Part 1 in a series of studies on hepatoprotective drugs, Part 54 in a series of studies on the constituents of the leguminous plants
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Publication History

1997

1997

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The antihepatotoxic activities of soyasaponin I and kaikasaponin III, triterpenoidal saponins isolated from Abri Herba, the whole plant of Abrus cantoniensis, were studied on liver injury induced by CCl4 in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The antihepatotoxic activities of these saponins and glycyrrhizin (positive control) were demonstrated by measuring the levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT). Soyasaponin I inhibited the elevation of GOT and GPT activities. The activities were comparable to those of glycyrrhizin. On the other hand, kaikasaponin III was more effective than soyasaponin I and glycyrrhizin. Kaikasaponin III showed the antihepatotoxic activity at less than 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, the highest activity was observed even in the lower doses (50, 100 µg/ml). However, soyasaponin I and kaikasaponin III showed some toxicity at the highest dose (500 µg/ml), though glycyrrhizin did not show toxicity at any dose.

Key words

Antihepatotoxic activity - primary cultured rat hepatocytes - triterpenoidal saponin - soyasaponin I - kaikasaponin III - Abrus cantoniensis - Leguminosae