• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.184-188
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to clarify whether tectorigenin and tectoridin isolated from the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis (Iridaceae) inhibit hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-intoxication in rats by the experimental methods in vitro and in vivo. Tectorigenin and tectoridin exhibited a significant decrease in serum transaminase activities elevated by hepatic damage induced by $CCl_4$-intoxication in rats, as well as in a lipid peroxidation causing a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) production by thiobarbituric acid (TBA)-reactant assay. Both compounds also showed strong increase in the antioxidant enzymes such as hepatic cytosolic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) activities in $CCl_4$-intoxicated rats. These results suggested that tectorigenin and tectoridin isolated from the rhizomes of B. chinensis possess not only the antioxidative, but also the hepatoprotective activities in $CCl_4$ -intoxicated rats.