Hepatoprotective and antihyperliposis activities of in vitro cultured Anoectochilus formosanus.

The pharmacological effects of an aqueous extract of the whole plants of in vitro cultured Anoectochilus formosanus were investigated experimentally for hepatoprotective and antihyperliposis activities. The extract showed significant antihepatotoxic activity against carbon tetrachloride induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. In an assay for antihyperliposis using aurothioglucose-induced obese mice, the extract suppressed significantly the increase in the weights of body and liver, ameliorated triglyceride levels in the liver and serum, and also significantly reduced the deposition of adipose tissue. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.