The protective effect of hymochromone against ethanol-induced thiamin deficiency.

Intragastric administration of ethanol to male rats given at 6 gm/kg body weight, daily for two weeks, produced no significant change in the body or liver weights. Hepatic total lipid increased but this was no more than a trend. Treatment with ethanol, however, resulted in a marked decrease in transketolase activity (TK) of the haemolysed whole blood, associated with a pronounced rise in the stimulating effect of thiamin pyrophosphate on this enzyme (TPP effect). These changes mediated by ethanol were counteracted by hymochromone.