Hepatoprotective effect of myristicin from nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) on lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine-induced liver injury.
To evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of spices, 21 different spices were fed to rats with liver damage caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus d-galactosamine (D-GalN). As assessed by plasma aminotranferase activities, nutmeg showed the most potent hepatoprotective activity. Bioassay-guided isolation of the active compound from nutmeg was carried out in mice by a single oral administration of the respective fractions. Myristicin, one of the major essential oils of nutmeg, was found to possess extraordinarily potent hepatoprotective activity. Myristicin markedly suppressed LPS/D-GalN-induced enhancement of serum TNF-alpha concentrations and hepatic DNA fragmentation in mice. These findings suggest that the hepatoprotective activity of myristicin might be, at least in part, due to the inhibition of TNF-alpha release from macrophages. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the hepatoprotective mechanism(s) of myristicin.
Morita
Tatsuya
T
Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, 836 Ohya, Japan.
Jinno
Keiko
K
Kawagishi
Hirokazu
H
Arimoto
Yasushi
Y
Suganuma
Hiroyuki
H
Inakuma
Takahiro
T
Sugiyama
Kimio
K
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004148:Dioxolanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005688:Galactosamine; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D026323:Myristica / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D000081248:Allylbenzene Derivatives; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D004148:Dioxolanes; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011748:Pyrogallol; C005246:myristicin; D005688:Galactosamine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase