Protection of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity by cinchona alkaloids.

Elevated serum enzymes were observed due to all four cinchona alkaloids in male Sprague-Dawley rats after four day treatment. Only a slight effect on bile flow and excretion of phenolphthalein glucuronide in bile was noted. Animals treated with cinchona alkaloid for four days and then receiving CCl4 showed a partial protection against CCl4 induced hepatotoxicity. The levels of serum enzymes were lowered as compared to animals treated with CCl4 alone. Bile flow and excretion of phenolphthalein glucuronide in bile showed a trend of restoration towards control levels. All four cinchona alkaloids probably inhibit microsomal enzymes, thereby, inhibiting the bioactivation of CCl4 and hence reducing the toxicity.