Influence of kavain on hepatic ultrastructure.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the major kavalactone kavain imposes adverse effects on the liver ultrastructure and function by affecting vascular and microvascular architecture and altering hepatocellular morphology.


METHODS
Kavain solution (10 microg/mL or 43.5 micromol/L) was perfused for 2 h in isolated rat livers. After standard fixation and tissue preparation, the samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and light microscopy (LM).


RESULTS
LM, SEM, and TEM examinations indicated kavain-treated rat livers (n=4) displayed severe vascular and endothelial damage compared to control livers (n=4).


CONCLUSIONS
The data so far support the hypothesis that kavain induces adverse effects on liver; additional investigations with other kavalactones and their effects on liver are urgently needed.
Fu
Shuang
S
Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
Korkmaz
Emine
E
Braet
Filip
F
Ngo
Quan
Q
Ramzan
Iqbal
I
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D011753:Pyrones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011753:Pyrones; C011889:kavain