| Abstract: | ![]()
Two flavanol glycosides, quercetin-3-O -β-D -glucuronopyranoside (1) and quercetin-3-O -β-D -glucuronopyranosyl methyl ester (2), from the aerial part of Saururus chinensis which possess hepatoprotective activities have been identified. Both compounds 1 and 2 significantly reduced the level of glutamic pyruvic transaminase released from intoxicated rat hepatocytes and resulted in 78% and 82% blockade of the toxicity at 200 μM , respectively. Furthermore, these compounds also reduced the level of toxicity as measured by the release of sorbitol dehydrogenase and resulted in 76% and 83% blockade of the toxicity at 200 μM , respectively. Also, these glycosides significantly increased the activity of glutathione-S-transferase in the injured rat hepatocytes and resulted in 68% and 86% blockade of the toxicity at 200 μM , respectively. Finally, these flavonol glycosides promoted the preservation of glutathione in carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated hepatocytes by 46% and 52% of the untreated control, respectively. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
