Sanguinarine: its potential as a liver toxic alkaloid present in the seeds of Argemone mexicana.

The alkaloid sanguinarine reported to be responsible for several outbreaks of epidemic dropsy in the tropics was examined for its hepatotoxic potential in rats. The studies showed that a single i.p. dose (10 mg/kg) of sanguinarine not only increased the activity of SGPT and SGOT substantially but also caused a significant loss of microsomal cytochrome P-450 and benzphetamine N-demethylase activity. Furthermore, the treated rats exhibited considerable loss of body and liver weight, peritoneal edema and slightly enlarged livers with fibrinous material. Microscopic examination of the liver tissue showed progressive cellular degeneration and necrosis further substantiating that sanguinarine is a potential hepatotoxic alkaloid.