Isolation of an Anti-Hepatotoxic Principle from the Juice of Ecballium elaterium

Ahmad Agil; Manuel Miró; José Jimenez; José Aneiros; M. Dolores Caracuel; Andrés García-Granados; M. Concepción Navarro

doi:10.1055/s-2006-960847

Planta Med 1999; 65(7): 673-675
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960847

Letter

Isolation of an Anti-Hepatotoxic Principle from the Juice of Ecballium elaterium

Ahmad Agil¹ , Manuel Miró² , José Jimenez² , José Aneiros³ , M. Dolores Caracuel³ , Andrés García-Granados⁴ , M. Concepción Navarro²

¹Department of Pharmacology & Biotechnology Institute, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
²Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Spain
³Department of Anatomic Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Granada, Spain
⁴Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

Abstract

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Abstract

The antihepatotoxic activity of elaterium (dried juice of the fruits of Ecballium elaterium, Cucurbitaceae) and cucurbitacin B (isolated from the juice) was studied against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity. Pre- and posttreatment with elaterium and cucurbitacin B reduced CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity, as shown by the reduction in the anormally increased sGPT levels. Posttreatment caused a significant reduction in the degree of steatosis observed in the control group, treated only with CCl₄. In conclusion, elaterium and cucurbitacin B had preventive and curative effects against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity.

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