Esculetin prevents liver damage induced by paracetamol and CCl4

Esculetin, a phenolic compound found in Cichorium intybus and Bougainvllra spectabillis was investigated for its possible protective effect against paracetamol and CCl4-induced hepatic damage. Paracetamol produced 100% mortality at the dose of Ig kg(-1) in mice while pre-treatment of animals with esculetin (6 mg kg(-1)) reduced the death rate to 40%. Oral administration of paracetamol (640 mg kg(-1)) produced liver damage in rats as manifested by the rise in serum enzyme levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aminotransferases (AST and ALT). Pre-treatment of rats with esculetin (6 mg kg(-1)) prevented the paracetamol-induced rise in serum enzymes. The hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 (1.5 mi kg(-1); orally) also raised serum ALP, AST and ALT levels. The same dose of esculetin (6 mg kg(-1)) was able to prevent the CCl4-induced rise in serum enzymes. Esculetin also prevented CCl4-induced prolongation in pentobarbital sleeping time conforming hepatoprotectivity. These results indicate that esculetin possesses anti-hepatotoxic activity and the presence of this compound in Cichorium intybus and Bougainvllra spectabillis may explain the folkloric use of these plants in liver damage. (C) 1998 The Italian Pharmacological Society.