Influence of 3-methylcholanthrene pretreatment on sanguinarine toxicity in mice.

We examined the effect of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) on the liver toxicity of sanguinarine in mice. Administration of 10 mg sanguinarine/kg bw ip to male mice resulted in significant decreases in liver glutathione and P450 enzymes activities, and increased in sorbitol dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase levels in serum suggestive of liver damage. However, pretreatment with 20 mg 3-MC/kg/d ip, an inducer of P450 enzymes, for 3 d mitigated the sanguinarine toxic effects suggesting 3-MC induced cytochrome P450 enzymes that promote detoxification of sanguinarine.