Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2-3
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-3-11
pubmed:abstractText
Hepatotoxic effect of (+)usnic acid, the active constituent of Usnea siamensis Wainio was studied in rats, isolated rat hepatocytes and isolated rat liver mitochondria. In rats, after treatment with high dose of (+)usnic acid (200 mg/kg per day, i.p.) for 5 days, there was no significant change in serum transaminase activity (serum AST, ALT) while the electron micrographs showed apparent morphological damage of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. (+)Usnic acid at high dose (1 mM) as well as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4, the reference hepatotoxin) induced loss of cell membrane integrity in isolated rat hepatocytes by increasing the release of cellular transaminases (AST, ALT). Increase in lipid peroxidation, decrease in glutathione (GSH) content and increase in aniline hydroxylase activity (CYP 2E1) were also found. Combination of (+)usnic acid and CCl4 showed the additive results. (+)Usnic acid (0.15-6 microM) possessed uncoupling activity in isolated rat liver mitochondria. It stimulated respiration by mitochondria respiring with glutamate plus malate or succinate as substrates and activated ATPase activity. Increasing concentration of (+)usnic acid (>6 microM) exhibited loss of respiratory control and ATP synthesis. In conclusion, hepatotoxic effect of high dose (+)usnic acid may involve its reactive metabolite(s), causing loss of integrity of membrane like structures, resulting in destruction of mitochondrial respiration and oxidative phosphorylation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0378-8741
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
90
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
381-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
Hepatotoxic effect of (+)usnic acid from Usnea siamensis Wainio in rats, isolated rat hepatocytes and isolated rat liver mitochondria.
pubmed:affiliation
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't