The effect of some flavolignans on lipid synthesis in ethanol-intoxicated hepatocytes in primary culture.

Rat liver cells in primary culture have been used to investigate the effect of ethanol and of two flavolignans 3,7-dihydroxy-2-(1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl)chroman-4-one (I) and 3,7-dihydroxy-2-[(2,3-diphenyl)-1,4-benzodioxan-6-yl]chroman-4-one (II) on the incorporation of [2-3H]-glycerol into lipids. Ethanol produces a decrease of the incorporation of labelled glycerol into lipids, whereas at the longest times of incubation flavolignans have an opposite effect. Neutral lipid/phospholipid labelling ratio is modified by ethanol in favour of neutral lipids. This action is counteracted by both flavolignans, which are therefore able to hinder, at least partially, the actions of ethyl alcohol on liver lipid metabolism.