Anti-hepatotoxic activity of cichotyboside,a sesquiterpene glycoside from the seeds of Cichorium intybus

The seeds of Cichorium intybus L. (Asteraceae) afforded a new guaianolide sesquiterpene glycoside, cichotyboside, which was characterized as 2α, 6β, 7β, 15-tetrahydroxy-1 (10), 4 (5)-diene-guaian-9α, 12-olide-7-O-β-caffoyl-15-O-β-D-glucoside (1) by means of spectral methods. Cichotyboside (1) exhibited a significant anti-hepatotoxic activity against CCl₄ induced toxicity in Wistar rats, wherein it reduced the elevated levels of liver enzymes such as serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) by 52 units/ml; SGPT 38 units/ml; ALKP 24.97 units/ml and 7.54 g/dl, 5.48 g/dl increase in total protein and albumin, respectively. It was observed that cichotyboside (1) decreased the level of ALKP comparable with that of standard drug silymarin, exhibiting an 88% decrease in comparison to silymarin (92%) and increased the level of total albumin 85% in comparison to silymarin (89%) against intoxicated control. Whereas, the levels of SGOT and SGPT were also decreased considerably in comparison to standard and intoxicated control.