Protective effects of 5,4′-dihydroxy-3.5′- dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone on experimental hepatic injury

AIM: To investigate the pharmacological effects of rice flavone (5,4'-dihydroxy-3',5'-dimethoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-flavone, RF) separated from panicle-differentiating to flowing rice on rat experimental hepatic injury. METHODS: Models of rat acute hepatic injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCI4) administration, rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, injury of primary cultured rat hepatocytes induced by CCI4, respectively, were established. After treated with RF, content of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin (AIb), hyaluronic acid (HA), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and hydroxyproline (Hyp) were measured and liver tissue was observed pathologically by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Effects of RF on pathological changes, function index, enzyme of scavenging free radicals and blood rheology were evaluated. RESULTS: In model of rat acute hepatic injury inducedby CCI4, RF can significantly decrease the contents of serum ALT, AST, increase the content of AIb, improve the dropsy and fat denaturalization of hepatocytes. In model of rat hepatic fibrosis induced by thioacetamide, RF can inhibit the increase of HA, Hyp and whole blood viscosity, and improve the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, and inauricular microcirculation. CONCLUSION: RF has apparent protective effects onhepatic injury by increasing activity of GSH-Px and SOD, scavenging free radicals produced by CCI4, reducing blood viscosity, and improving microcirculation and blood supply.