Abstract

Diosgenin, isolated from Asparagus officinalis, was investigated for its possible protective effects on carbon tetrachloride (86µM)-induced toxicity in hepatocytes, isolated from rats treated with phenobarbital. Hepatocytes were isolated by two-stepped collagenase perfusion. The effects were compared with those of silymarin. Cell incubation with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) led to a significant decrease in cell viability, increased LDH leakage, decrease levels of cellular glutathione and evaluation in MDA quantity. During induction with Phenobarbital, carbon tetrachloride, administered alone, increased its toxic effects. Cells pre-incubation with diosgenin (0,01 µM, 0,1 µM, 10 µM and 100 µM) significantly ameliorated, in a concentration-dependent manner, the toxicant-induced hepatocytes damage. The effects were similar to those of silymarin (0,01 µM, 0,1 µM, 10 µM and 100 µM). Our results suggest that diosgenin, isolated from Asparagus officinalis, showed cytoprotective and antioxidant activity against this model of hepatotoxicity, possibly by affecting the metabolism of carbon tetrachloride.