Protective effect of (S)-bakuchiol from Psoralea corylifolia on rat liver injury in vitro and in vivo

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of (S)-bakuchiol isolated from the seed of Psoralea corylifolia, on liver injury. Primary rat hepatocyte intoxication was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or D-galactosamine (D-GaIN). Liver injury was induced by either CCl4 or D-GaIN in rats. In vitro, the cellular leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and cell viability following treatment with hepatotoxicants were significantly improved by bakuchiol treatment at a concentration range of 25 - 200 mu M for 1:13H, 100 - 200 mu M for CCl4 and 100 - 200 mu M for D-GaIN-induced hepatocyte injury. Treatment with bakuchiol significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and intracellular glutathione depletion in hepatocytes induced by 1:13H, CCl4 or D-GaIN. Treatment with bakuchiol (25 or 50 mg/kg, p. o.) at 1, 24 and 48 h after subcutaneous injection of CCl4 significantly reduced the levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in serum. Histological observations revealed that fatty acid changes, hepatocyte necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in CCl4-injured liver was improved when treated with bakuchiol. Bakuchiol treatment (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) also significantly reduced the levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase in an acute liver injury model induced by D-GaIN. From these results, bakuchiol has a protective effect against tBH, CCl4 or D-GaIN-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro or in vivo.