Anti-lipid peroxidative effect of an extract of the stems of Kadsura heteroclita and its major constituent, kadsurin, in mice.

Three-days successive p.o. administration of an EtOH extract of the stems of Kadsura heteroclita (Schizandraceae) or its major constituent, kadsurin, resulted in significant decreases of CCl4-induced lipid-peroxidation products, such as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS), conjugated dienes and fluorescent products in the liver of mice. In contrast, a significant restoration of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity reduced by CCl4-intoxication was observed in the administered groups, suggesting that the subchronic treatment of mice with the EtOH extract or kadsurin induce enzymes capable of scavenging oxygen radical species in the liver, though the extract and kadsurin themselves may have an anti-oxidant property.