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Planta Med 1999; 65(7): 673-675
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960847
Letter

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Isolation of an Anti-Hepatotoxic Principle from the Juice of Ecballium elaterium

Ahmad Agil1 , Manuel Miró2 , José Jimenez2 , José Aneiros3 , M. Dolores Caracuel3 , Andrés García-Granados4 , M. Concepción Navarro2
  • 1Department of Pharmacology & Biotechnology Institute, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
  • 2Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Spain
  • 3Department of Anatomic Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
  • 4Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Publication History

1998

1999

Publication Date:
04 January 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The antihepatotoxic activity of elaterium (dried juice of the fruits of Ecballium elaterium, Cucurbitaceae) and cucurbitacin B (isolated from the juice) was studied against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Pre- and posttreatment with elaterium and cucurbitacin B reduced CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, as shown by the reduction in the anormally increased sGPT levels. Posttreatment caused a significant reduction in the degree of steatosis observed in the control group, treated only with CCl4. In conclusion, elaterium and cucurbitacin B had preventive and curative effects against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity.