THE PROTECTIVE ACTION OF GLYCYRRHIZA FLAVONOIDS AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE HEPATOTOXICITY IN MICE

The protective action of Glycyrrhiza flavonoids (GF), the major components in the radix of Glycyrrhiza, on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity was investigated. The carbon tetrachloride-induced increases of serum glutamic-pyruvic trasaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly inhibited by GF dose-dependently. Carbon tetrachloride-induced necrosis in mice were ameliorated by GF pretreatment. Concomitantly, the carbon tetrachloride-induced elevation of MDA. in the liyer was lowered by GF. GF neither reduced the activities of the two enzymes in normal mouse sera nor directly inhibited the activities of the two enzymes in the serum. These findings suggest that the anti-lipid peroxidation effect of GF was contributed to its protective action against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity.