Sauchinone, a lignan from Saururus chinensis, attenuates CCl4-induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

We used primary cultures of rat hepatocytes injured by the hepatotoxin, car bon tetrachloride (CCl4), as a test system to screen for hepatoprotective c ompounds from natural products. Sauchinone mas isolated from the aerial par ts of Saururus chinensis (Saururaceae) by this method. At a concentration o f 50 mu M, sauchinone significantly reduced the release into the culture me dium of glutamic pyruvic transaminase from CCl4-damaged cultures of rat hep atocytes. It has been determined that glutathione, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase all play important roles in the cellular defense ag ainst oxidative stress. Sauchinone appeared to protect primary cultured rat hepatocytes exposed to CCl4 from significant drops in the levels of each o f these three specific markers, respectively. Sauchinone also seemed to ame liorate lipid peroxidation as demonstrated by a reduction in the production of the oxidized lipid byproduct, malondialdehyde, These results suggest th at sauchinone may exert hepatoprotective activity through antioxidant activ ity.