Effects of acetylbergenin against D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The hepatoprotective effects of acetylbergenin were examined against D-gala ctosamine (GalN)-induced liver damage in rats, compared with that of bergen in reported previously. Acetylbergenin was synthesized from acetylation of bergenin, isolated from Mallotus japonicus, to increase lipophilic and phys iological activities. Acetylbergenin was administered orally once daily for 7 days and then GalN (400 mg kg(-1), i.p.) was injected at 24 h and 96 h a fter the final administration of acetylbergenin. Acetylbergenin reduced the elevated serum enzyme activities of alanine/aspartate aminotransferase, so rbitol dehydrogenase and gamma -glutamyltransferase and the formation of he patic malondialdehyde induced by GalN. Acetylbergenin also significantly re stored towards normalization the decreased levels of glutathione and the de creased activities of glutathione S-transferase and glutathione reductase i nduced by GalN. Therefore, these results suggest that acetylbergenin has he patoprotective effects against GalN-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting li pid peroxidation and maintaining an adequate level of GSH for the detoxific ation of xenobiotics as underlying hepatoprotective mechanisms. In addition , lipophilic acetylbergenin showed more activity in the hepatoprotection th an that of the much less lipophilic bergenin reported previously. (C) 2000 Academic Press.