Protecting effect of brevifolin and 8,9-single-epoxy brevifolin of Phyllanthus simplex on rat liver injury

Objective: To investigate the effect of protecting liver of brevifolin and 8,9-single-epoxy brevifolin of Phyllanthus simplex. Method: Rats were administered with CCl₄ (ip) or alcohol (ig) to establish acute or chronic liver injured model, respectively. ALT, AST and TBIL in serum were measured using colorimetric analysis to evaluate liver function. MDA content or SOD activity in serum and liver tissue was measured by thiobarbituric acid chromatometry and xanthine oxidase methods, respectively. The hemorheological parameters were observed. Result: Brevifolin and 8,9-single-epoxy brevifolin reduced the increase of ALT induced by CCl₄, but they did not influence the increase of AST. And it could inhibit the pathologic increase of serum TBIL induced by alcohol. They could ameliorate the MDA increase or SOD decrease in serum and liver tissue in rats with liver injury, and decrease abnormal changed hemorheological parameters. Conclusion: Brevifolin and 8,9-single-epoxy brevifolin show protective effective against acute and chronic liver injuries, and the mechanism is relevant to antagonizing the lipid peroxidation of free radical and improving the blood circulation.