Hepatoprotective effect of Sabina przewalskii against menadione-induced toxicity

Sabina przewalskii is a Tibetan medicinal plant. Pretreatment with an ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the plant suppressed the plasma alanine aminotransferase activity in menadione-intoxicated mice. In vitro studies showed that the Sabina extract could inhibit NADH-induced superoxide production in isolated hepatocytes as indicated by a decrease of lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence. In addition, the extract inhibited tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced lipid peroxidation in isolated hepatocytes dose-dependently. These results suggested that the protective action of the Sabina extract against menadione-induced hepatotoxicity is associated with its antioxidant activities including the scavenging of superoxide anion radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.