Abstract
To investigate the detoxification of bromobenzene-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation
by Oenanthe javanica DC, the hepatic lipid peroxide level and the activities of enzymes responsible for
production and removal of epoxide were studied. The level of lipid peroxide elevated
by bromobenzene was significantly reduced by the methanol extract (250 mg/kg) and
persicarin (5 mg/kg). The methanol extract and persicarin administered daily over
4 weeks before intoxication with bromobenzene did not affect the activities of aminopyrine
N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, and glutathione S-transferase. Epoxide hydrolase activity was decreased significantly by bromobenzene,
which was restored to the control level by pretreatment with persicarin. However,
the identical pretreatment with isorhamnetin and hyperoside did not change the enzyme
activity or lipid peroxide level. The results suggest that the reduction of bromobenzene-induced
hepatic lipid peroxidation by O. javanica under our experimental conditions is effected through enhancing the activity of epoxide
hydrolase, an enzyme removing bromobenzene epoxide. In addition, the bioactive component
of this plant responsible for the detoxification of bromobenzene, at least in part,
is thought to be persicarin.
Key words
Oenanthe javanica DC - Umbelliferae - bromobenzene-induced hepatic lipid peroxidation - aminopyrine
N-demethylase - aniline hydroxylase - glutathione S-transferase - epoxide hydrolase - persicarin