Protective effects of phenolic compounds on CCl4-induced toxicity in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The protective effects of a series of phenolic compounds, phenolic acids and flavonoids on the cytotoxicity of CCl4 in rat hepatocytes were studied. A number of flavones, 7,8-dihydroxy-flavone, luteolin and hypolaetin-8-glucoside, flavonols, morin, quercetin, robinetin and gossypin, phenolic acids, gallic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids, as well as the flavane (+)-catechin significantly inhibited alanine amine transferase (ALT) release. Catechol groups are determinant for the protective activity of flavonoids and cinnamic acid derivatives, as well as the resorcinol or pyrogallol moieties in the B ring of flavonoids. In benzoic acid derivatives a pyrogallol group is required. This feature is associated with the inhibition of ALT spontaneous release.