menthofuran and Liver-Diseases

Effect of C-phycocyanin (from Spirulina platensis) pretreatment on carbontetrachloride and R-(+)-pulegone-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was studied. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration (200 mg/kg) of a single dose of phycocyanin to rats, one or three hours prior to R-(+)-pulegone (250 mg/kg) or carbontetrachloride (0.6 ml/kg) challenge, significantly reduced the hepatotoxicity caused by these chemicals. For instance, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) activity was almost equal to control values. The losses of microsomal cytochrome P450, glucose-6-phosphatase and aminopyrine-N-demethylase were significantly reduced, suggesting that phycocyanin provides protection to liver enzymes. It was noticed that the level of menthofuran, the proximate toxin of R-(+)-pulegone was nearly 70% more in the urine samples collected from rats treated with R-(+)-pulegone alone than rats treated with the combination of phycocyanin and R-(+)-pulegone. The possible mechanism involved in the hepatoprotection is discussed.

Topics: Alanine Transaminase; Aminopyrine N-Demethylase; Animals; Carbon Tetrachloride; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Cyclohexane Monoterpenes; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; Glucose-6-Phosphatase; Liver; Liver Diseases; Male; Menthol; Microsomes, Liver; Monoterpenes; Phycocyanin; Rats; Terpenes