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Metallothionein Induction and Hepatoprotection by Echinoside A and Sakuraso‐saponin
Author(s) -
Itoh Norio,
Morishita Yasuhiro,
Tanaka Tetsuya,
Muto Norio,
Kobayashi Motomasa,
Kitagawa Isao,
Tanaka Keiichi
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
phytotherapy research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.019
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1573
pISSN - 0951-418X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1573(199703)11:2<132::aid-ptr52>3.0.co;2-z
Subject(s) - metallothionein , saponin , hepatoprotection , chemistry , ccl4 , pharmacology , lipid peroxide , biochemistry , carbon tetrachloride , biology , medicine , oxidative stress , lipid peroxidation , enzyme , glutathione , pathology , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , gene
Metallothionein‐inducing activities of 11 saponins were investigated in mice. Of the saponins investigated, echinoside A and sakuraso‐saponin were highly effective. Sakuraso‐saponin showed dose‐dependent and time‐dependent induction of hepatic metallothionein. The isoforms of the induced metallothionein in the liver were determined to be metallothionein 1 and 2. Induction of metallothionein was observed specifically in the liver and heart. Echinoside A showed similar effects to sakuraso‐saponin except that no induction was observed in the heart. Pretreatment of mice with these saponins blocked CCl 4 ‐induced hepatic injury, such as the elevation of plasma transaminase activity and centrilobular necrosis in the liver. CCl 4 ‐induced elevation of lipid peroxide level in the liver was also blocked by injection of sakuraso‐saponin. The hepatoprotective activities of the saponins found in this study may have been due to their MT‐inducing activity. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.