The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of (S)-
bakuchiol isolated from the seed of Psoralea corylifolia, on liver injury. Primary rat hepatocyte intoxication was induced by
tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBH),
carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) or D-
galactosamine (D-GalN). Liver injury was induced by either CCl4 or D-GalN in rats. In vitro, the cellular leakage of
lactate dehydrogenase and cell viability following treatment with hepatotoxicants were significantly improved by
bakuchiol treatment at a concentration range of 25-200 microM for tBH, 100-200 microM for CCl4 and 100-200 microM for D-GalN-induced hepatocyte injury. Treatment with
bakuchiol significantly inhibited lipid peroxidation and intracellular
glutathione depletion in hepatocytes induced by tBH, CCl4 or D-GalN. Treatment with
bakuchiol (25 or 50 mg/kg, p.o.) at 1, 24 and 48 h after
subcutaneous injection of CCl4 significantly reduced the levels of
aspartate transaminase and
alanine transaminase in serum. Histological observations revealed that
fatty acid changes, hepatocyte
necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in CCl4-injured liver was improved when treated with
bakuchiol.
Bakuchiol treatment (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) also significantly reduced the levels of
aspartate transaminase and
alanine transaminase in an acute liver injury model induced by D-GalN. From these results,
bakuchiol has a protective effect against tBH, CCl4 or D-GalN-induced hepatotoxicity in vitro or in vivo.