• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.11 no.3_4
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• pp.53-57
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• 1996

In this study we investigated the effect of hydroxybrazilin on glutathione depletion induced by BrCCl$_3$ and menadione in cultured hepatocytes to understand the cellular mechanisms of hepatoprotective effect of hydroxybrazilin. Hydroxybrazilin alone had no effect on total glutathione level and the ratio of reduced glutathione/total glutathione (GSH/(GSSG+GSH)). BrCCl$_3$ dramatically decreased total glutathione level and hydroxybrazilin significantly prevented glutathion depletion by BrCCl$_3$. The ratio of GSH/(GSSG+ GSH) was also decreased by BrCCl$_3$ and recovered by hydroxybrazilin treatment. Menadione decreased total glutathione level and the ratio of GSH/(GSSG+GSH) but hydroxybrazilin showed no significant effects on menadione-induced glutathione depletion. These data suggest that hydroxybrazilin might prevent the hepatotoxicity induced by chemicalderived radicals but not the toxicity linked with oxidative stress.