Ruscogenin glycoside (Lm-3) isolated from Liriope muscari improves liver injury by dysfunctioning liver-infiltrating lymphocytes

The effects of ruscogenin 1-O-[beta -D-glucopyranosyl(1 --> 2)] [beta -D-xy lopyranosyl(1 --> 3)]-beta -D-fucopyranoside (Lm-3) and its aglycone, rusco genin, on liver injury induced in mice by delayed-type hypersensitivity to picryl chloride have been investigated. Lm-3 and ruscogenin significantly d ecreased liver injury when given during the effector phase of the delayed-t ype hypersensitivity reaction. The pretreatment of nonparenchymal cells, bu t not hepatocytes, with Lm-3 or ruscogenin in-vitro caused a concentration- and time-dependent inhibition against the damage. Lm-3 showed a stronger i nhibition against the damage than ruscogenin (IC50: Lm-3 6.3 x 10(-10) M, r uscogenin 3.9 x 10(-7) M). However, neither Lm-3 nor ruscogenin blocked the hepatotoxic potential of CCI4, when used to pretreat hepatocytes. Moreover , Lm-3 and ruscogenin inhibited concanavalin A-induced lymphocyte prolifera tion only at high concentrations. These results suggested that Lm-3 and rus cogenin improved the immunological liver injury by selectively causing dysf unction of the liver-infiltrating cells rather than by protecting hepatocyt e membranes. Such characteristics would be significant for treating immunol ogically related liver diseases as well as for developing new drugs.