Effects of Natrually Occurring Furanocoumarins on Lipid Peroxidation and Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Hapatotoxicity in Mice

Several naturally occurring furanocoumarins significantly inhibited microsomal lipid peroxidation not only mediated by endogeneous iron and NADPH but also initiated by $CCL_4$ metabolites, phellopterin, a potent inhibibitor of cytochrome p-450, exhibited an almost complete inhibition of $CCL_4$-induced hepatotoxicity as measured by sGPT activity 24 hr after $CCL_4$ intoxication, whereas other furanocoumarins such as imperation, byakangelicin and oxypeucedanin methanolate exerted no protective effect. When compared with other cytochrome P-450 inhibitors(SKF-52A, AIA) and silymarin given at the same dose level $(ED_{50})$, phellopterin still showed a significant inhibition of hepatotoxicity which was even stronger than that of AIA, known as a typical suicide inhibitor. Phellopterin was partially effective when given 30 min after $CCL_4$ treatment. Repeated administrations of phellopterin, however, resulted in a complete loss of the protection against $CCL_4$-induced hepatotoxicity.