Effects of the Methanol Extract of the Leaves of Brassica juncea and Its Major Component, Isorhamnetin , on Hepatic Drug Metabolizing Enzymes in Bromobenzene-treated Rats

The effects of the methanol extract of the leaves of Brassica juncea and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$, major compound isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of this plant on hepatic lipid peroxidation and drug-metabolizing enzymes, were evaluated in rats treated with bromobenzene. The extract and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ of oral administration did not show any significant effects on activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase, enzymes forming toxic epoxide by bromobenzene as well as on glutathione content. However, both methanol extract and isorhamnetin $3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ significantly recovered the decreased activities of glutathione s-transferase and epoxide hydrolase, and also reduced the lipid peroxide level in rats treated with bromobenzene. From the results, the protections of this plant against bromobenzene-induced hepatotoxicity are thought to be via enhancing the activities of epoxide hydrolase and glutathione s-transferase, enzymes removing toxic epoxide, and reducing the lipid peroxide level.