Hepatoprotective effect of Sabina przewalskii against menadione-induced toxicity

Sabina przewalskii is a Tibetan medicinal plant. Pretreatment with an ethyl acetate‐soluble fraction of the plant suppressed the plasma alanine aminotransferase activity in menadione‐intoxicated mice. In vitro studies showed that the Sabina extract could inhibit NADH‐induced superoxide production in isolated hepatocytes as indicated by a decrease of lucigenin‐amplified chemiluminescence. In addition, the extract inhibited tert‐butyl hydroperoxide‐induced lipid peroxidation in isolated hepatocytes dose‐dependently. These results suggested that the protective action of the Sabina extract against menadione‐induced hepatotoxicity is associated with its antioxidant activities including the scavenging of superoxide anion radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.