Liver–protective Principle of Thujopsis dolabrata Leaves1

Hiroshi Hikino; Toshizi Sugai; Chohachi Konno; Ichio Hashimoto; Shigeru Tërasaki; Iwao Hirono

doi:10.1055/s-0028-1097256

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 1979; 36(6): 156-163
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1097256

Research Articles

Liver–protective Principle of Thujopsis dolabrata Leaves¹

Hiroshi Hikino¹ , Toshizi Sugai¹ , Chohachi Konno¹ , Ichio Hashimoto² , Shigeru Tërasaki³ , Iwao Hirono⁴

¹Pharmaceutical Institute, Tohoku University, Sendai.
²College of Medical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai.
³Central Clinical Laboratories, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai.
⁴Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

1 Liver–protective drugs, Part 1. Also Part 6 in the series on the validity of the Oriental medicines. [Part 5: Planta Medica 34, 150 (1979).]

Abstract

PDF Download

Abstract

The protective action of methanol extract of a Japanese folklore medicine „asunaro–yo”, Thujopsis dolabrata leaves, on CCl₄–induced liver damage in mice has been assessed with a liver function test to reveal that some extracts are effective for protection of the experimental liver lesion. One of the extracts has been fractionated, monitored by the serum enzyme assay, furnishing a lignan, desoxypodophyllotoxin, as the active principle. The protective effect of desoxypodophyllotoxin against CCl₄ hepatotoxicity has been shown by liver function tests as well as by pathological examinations. Desoxypodophyllotoxin had no appreciable effect on the serum enzyme activity of normal mice. Remarkable variation has been found in the content of the active principle desoxypodophyllotoxin and consequently the protective activity of the leaves.

Key Word Index

Thujopsis dolabrata - Cupressaceae - Lignan - Desoxypodophyllotoxin - Carbon Tetrachloride Hepatotoxicity - Liver–protective Effect

PDF (559 kb)