Pharmacological Studies on Schizandra Fruits. II. Effects of Constituents of Shizandra Fruits on Drugs Induced Hepatic Damage in Rats

Abstract

Effects of gomisin A, schizandrin, and some analogues, which are lignan components of schizandra fruits, on the liver damages induced by various drugs were examined biochemically and histologically. Pretreatment of gomisin A markedly reduced the activities of GOT, GPT, LDH, T-BIL, and T-CHO in the serum elevated by CCl4 and slightly decreased ALP activity. Histologically, hepatocellular necrosis by CCl4 was inhibited by pretreatment of gomisin A. Schizandrin, (+)-deoxyschizandrin, deoxygomisin A, and dimethylgomisin J also biochemically protected the liver from the injury by CCl4, but the potency of each compound was weaker than that of gomisin A. Gomisin A and schizandrin lowered the elevation of GOT and GPT in the serum induced by galactosamine. The action of gomisin A was stronger than that of schizandrin. Under microscopic observation, gomisin A depressed the appearance of vacuoles. Gomisin A prevented balooming of liver cells and fat droplets from 1% orotic acid, but not from ANIT induced injury biochemically and histologically. By considering chemical structures, it is necessary for lignan compounds to possess a methylenedioxyl moiety at C-12 and 13 positions in exerting the strong inhibitory effect on the liver damage.