[Effect of estragole on glucocorticoid induction of tyrosine aminotransferase and tryprophan oxygenase in the rat and mouse liver].

A single intraperitoneal injection of Estragole (300 mg/kg) to female ICR mice 19 hours prior to Dexamethasone induction decreased induced activities of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) and tryptophan oxygenase (TO) nearly to 50% of the control values. In these mice, activities of the marker enzymes of liver damage: alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AAT) increased in the blood 1.7-2.3-fold as compared with the untreated controls. By contrast, carbon tetrachloride (100 mg/kg) increased the blood AIAT and AsAT activities 135- and 30-fold as compared with the control, but inhibited the TAT and TO induction much less than Estragole did. Estragole seems to inhibit the glucocorticoid induction of these hepatic enzymes not via the unspecific toxic damage of the liver.