The prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice by alpha-hederin: inhibiton of cytochrome P450 2E1 expression.

The protective effects of alpha-Hederin on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicities were investigated in mice. Pretreatment with alpha-Hederin prior to the administration of carbon tetrachloride significantly prevented the increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lipid peroxidation in a dose dependent manner. Hepatic glutathione levels and glutathione-S-transferase activities were not affected by pretreatment with alpha-Hederin alone but pretreatment with alpha-Hederin protects carbon tetrachloride-induced depletion of hepatic glutathione levels. The effects of alpha-Hederin on the cytochrome P450 (P450) 2E1, the major isozyme involved in carbon tetrachloride bioactivation were investigated. alpha-Hederin markedly decreased the P450 2E1-specific activities of p-nitrophenol and aniline hydroxylation in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these observations, the P450 2E1 expressions were also decreased, as determined by immunoblot analysis. These results demonstrate that treatment of mice with alpha-Hederin decreases the expression and activities of P450 2E1 enzyme, and reduces biotransformation of carbon tetrachloride, and diminished carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury.