BRAZILIN PROTECTS CULTURED RAT HEPATOCYTES FROM BrCCI₃-INDUCED TOXICITY

ABSTRACT

Brazilin, the main constituent of Caesalpinia sappan, is an antioxidative substance that has catechol moiety in its chemical structure. Considering the antioxidant-activity of brazilin, it was expected to have protective effects on the toxicities of radical generating chemicals. The incubation of rat hepatocytes with BrCCl₃ resulted in significant increase in lipid peroxidation, leakage of cytoplasmic enzymes and cytoplasmic glutathione depletion. The BrCCl₃-induced toxicities on hepatocytes were reduced by the treatment of brazilin. Brazilin has been also proved to have a protective effect on the BrCCl₃-induced depression of microsomal calcium sequestration activity. These results indicate that brazilin plays a protective role in BrCCl₃-induced hepatocyte injury of the rat.