Hepatoprotective effect of the extract and isocytisoside from Aquilegia vulgaris

The hepatoprotective effect of the ethanol extract (AvEE) and the main flavonoid compound 4'-methoxy-5,7-dihydroxyflavone 6-C-beta-glueopyranoside (isocytisoside, ISOC) from the leaves and stems of Aquilegia valgaris L. were studied using the CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity test. The acute toxicity test in mice showed that AvEE can be classified as nontoxic since a dose of 3000 mg/kg did not cause mortality. The barbiturate-induced sleeping time prolonged by CCl4 administration to mice was significantly reduced after AvEE treatment proving the protective effect of the extract on microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes. AvEE and ISOC administered to rats 48 h, 24 h and 2 h before, and 6 h after CCl4 intoxication caused a significant decrease in the CCl4-induced elevation of hepatic enzymes activity in serum, i.e. sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH), glutamate oxaloacetate and glutamate pyruvate transaminases (GOT, GPT). Both substances induced CCl4-diminished erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) preliminarily enhanced by CCl4. The hepatoprotective properties of AvEE and ISOC were confirmed by pathomorphological examination of the liver. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley Sons, Ltd.