INHIBITION OF LIPID-PEROXIDATION BY TERNATIN, A TETRAMETHOXYFLAVONE FROM EGLETES-VISCOSA L

Ternatin, the 4',5-dihydroxy-3,3',7,8-tetramethoxyflavone from Egletes viscosa L. (Asteraceae) was evaluated for its antiperoxidative effect against lipid peroxidation using CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and adri amycin-induced hind-paw edema in mice as test models. An increase of m elondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation in liver homogen ates and marked elevations of serum ALT, AST and HDL were detected 1 d ay after carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration. These increases w ere significantly inhibited in ternatin (25 and 50 mg/kg i. p.) pretre ated mice in a dose dependent way. Also, ternatin at a dose of 50 mg/k g but not at 25 mg/kg caused a significant inhibition of hind-paw edem a induced by adriamycin, in a manner similar to vitamin E (300 mg/kg, p.o.), a compound known to be highly effective in protecting against m embrane lipid peroxidation. These observations provide in vivo evidenc e of an antiperoxidative property of ternatin and suggest that it may offer therapeutic potential for the control of lipid peroxided mediate d pathologies.