EFFECT OF PHLORACETOPHENONE ON BILE-FLOW AND BILIARY LIPIDS IN RATS

Phloracetophenone is the aglycone part of phloracetophenone glucoside, a naturally-occurring compound from the indigenous plant, Curcuma com osa. The glucoside has previously been identified as the choleretic pr inciple of the plant. In the present study, the effects of synthetic p hloracetophenone (2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THA)) on bile how and biliary lipid secretion were investigated in male rats, using a bile f istula. A single intraduodenal administration of THA at doses of 10-15 0 mg kg(-1) induced a dose-dependent increase in bile flow rate. The i ncrease in bile how was associated with increased biliary secretion of bile acid, decreased secretion of cholesterol and phospholipid, and l owered bile lithogenic index. THA at a dose of 100 mg kg b.w.(-1) indu ced a maximal increase of bile flow rate (up to 233.8 +/- 6.5% of pre- THA control) and bile acid output (up to 293.4 +/- 15.2% of pre-THA co ntrol). The stimulation of bile secretion by THA was due to an increas e in both bile acid-dependent and bile acid-independent flow. A consid erable decrease in plasma cholesterol was also observed, which was att ributed to the great choleretic activity with enhancement of biliary b ile acid secretion. These findings suggest that THA may have potential for development as a therapeutic agent for treatment of cholestasis, dissolving gallstones, and reducing plasma cholesterol. (C) 1998 Elsev ier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.