HIBISCUS PROTOCATECHUIC ACID PROTECTS AGAINST OXIDATIVE DAMAGE-INDUCED BY TERT-BUTYLHYDROPEROXIDE IN RAT PRIMARY HEPATOCYTES

Hibiscus protocatechuic acid (PCA), a simple phenolic compound isolate d from Hibiscus sabdariffa L., was studied for its protective effects against oxidative damage induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) in a primary culture of rat hepatocytes. It had been reported that expos ure of isolated hepatocytes to t-BHP results in leakage of lactate deh ydrogenase (LDH) and alanine transaminase (ALT), peroxidation of cellu lar lipids, and depolarization of mitochondria. The present investigat ions showed that PCA at concentrations of 0.05 mg/ml and 0.10 mg/ml si gnificantly decreased the leakage of LDH (P < 0.01) and ALT (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) and the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) induced by 30-min treatment with t-BHP (1.5 mM) in primary c ultured rat hepatocytes. PCA also attenuated t-BHP (0.10 mM) induced m itochondrial depolarization as determined by a retention test of rhoda mine 123 and DNA repair synthesis as evidenced by unscheduled DNA synt hesis (UDS). In addition, PCA exhibited an effective ability to quench 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals (DPPH). In conclusion, PCA dem onstrated protective effects against cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of hepatocytes induced by t-BHP. One of mechanisms of PCA's protective ef fect may be associated with its property of scavenging free radicals.