Hepatoprotective activity of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D. C.

Aerial parts of Achyrocline satureioides (Lam) D. C. (Asteraceae) are used in folk medicine as infusions or decoctions for the management of several diseases including gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. These data and the presence of flavonoids and caffeoyl derivatives have led us to study its hepatoprotective and choleretic activities. The hepatoprotective activity was evaluated in the bromobenzene- (BB-) induced hepatotoxicity model in mice through the measurement of the serum levels of alanine-aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and glutathione levels. The aqueous extract of the aerial parts of A. satureioides administered before BB, at the dose of 300 mg kg(-1) p.o., demonstrated significant inhibition (P < 0.01) in the BB increase of liver ALT and AST and in the BB-induced increase of liver TBARS content. Also it was able to significantly increase (P < 0.05) the depleted levels of liver glutathione. In addition, at the same dose, a significant increase (P < 0.01) in the bile flow of rats was found. The results obtained with the aqueous extract of A. satureioides support its use in popular medicine as a hepatoprotective and digestive agent, and the effects might be mediated through the antioxidant and choleretic activities. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.