Primary human hepatocytes are protected against prolonged and repeated exposure to ethanol by silibinin-dihemisuccinate.
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the effect of silibinin-C-2',3'-dihydrogensuccinate (SDH) on primary human hepatocytes when exposed to ethanol for 14 days. At regular intervals, the medium was refreshed and liver enzymes and secreted protein in the medium were determined.


RESULTS
The ethanol-induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (at 34 mM ethanol) was completely blocked by 20 microM SDH. SDH itself stimulated fibrinogen release and had no toxic effect.


CONCLUSIONS
We can conclude that SDH has a beneficial effect on human hepatocytes when exposed to ethanol in vitro.
van Pelt
Jos F
JF
Department of Liver and Pancreatic Diseases, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. Jos.vanPelt@med.kuleuven.ac.be
Verslype
Chris
C
Crabbé
Tina
T
Zaman
Zahur
Z
Fevery
Johan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000077385:Silybin; D012838:Silymarin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D012838:Silymarin; D000431:Ethanol; D000077385:Silybin