Toxicity of flavoglaucin from Aspergillus chevalieri in rabbits.

Female rabbits were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with purified flavoglaucin from Aspergillus chevalieri. After 2 h the rabbits were bled and the livers removed for enzyme assays. No changes were found for plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and its isozymes or liver transketolase (TK) activities. A small but not statistically significant increase was found in plasma glutamate pyruvate transaminase activity. A highly significant increase in plasma glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase activity was observed along with an increase in liver LDH which was, however, not quite significant. The liver also showed some histological evidence of hepatic damage.