Preventive effect of gomisin A, a lignan component of shizandra fruits, on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

The preventive effect of gomisin A, a lignan component of shizandra fruits, on acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in rats was examined by histological and biochemical analysis. Acetaminophen at a dose of 750 mg/kg was administered to male Wistar rats with or without pretreatment with 50 mg/kg of gomisin A. Gomisin A inhibited not only the elevation of serum aminotransferase activity and hepatic lipoperoxides content, characteristic of acetaminophen administration, but also the appearance of histological changes such as degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes. However, gomisin A did not affect the decrease in liver glutathione content. These results suggest that gomisin A protects the liver from injury after administration of acetaminophen through the suppression of lipid peroxidation.