Kaikasaponin III and Soyasaponin I, Major Triterpene Saponins of Abrus cantoniensis, act on GOT and GPT: Influence on Transaminase Elevation of Rat Liver Cells Concomitantly Exposed to CCl₄ for One Hour¹

Abstract

The antihepatotoxic activities of soyasaponin I and kaikasaponin III, triterpenoidal saponins isolated from Abri Herba, the whole plant of Abrus cantoniensis, were studied on liver injury induced by CCl₄ in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. The antihepatotoxic activities of these saponins and glycyrrhizin (positive control) were demonstrated by measuring the levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT). Soyasaponin I inhibited the elevation of GOT and GPT activities. The activities were comparable to those of glycyrrhizin. On the other hand, kaikasaponin III was more effective than soyasaponin I and glycyrrhizin. Kaikasaponin III showed the antihepatotoxic activity at less than 100 µg/ml. Furthermore, the highest activity was observed even in the lower doses (50, 100 µg/ml). However, soyasaponin I and kaikasaponin III showed some toxicity at the highest dose (500 µg/ml), though glycyrrhizin did not show toxicity at any dose.

Key words

Antihepatotoxic activity - primary cultured rat hepatocytes - triterpenoidal saponin - soyasaponin I - kaikasaponin III - Abrus cantoniensis - Leguminosae