OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of the roots of F. hirta against the cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity and it's active components.

METHODCocaine hydrochloride was subcutaneously injected to make male ICR mice liver wounded. Male ICR mice were randomly ig administered with the F. hirta decoction. The dose groups are 100, 200, 300 g x kg(-1) herb materials per body weight. Cocaine hydrochloride was subcutaneously injected into the mice after the administration. The serum ALT, AST activity and the activity of CAT in liver homogenate were assayed, and liver change of pathomorphism was evaluated to prove the effect of the F. hirta decoction on cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity. And the activity of psoralean which was separated from the F. hirta decoction by bioassay-guided fractionation, was proofed in the same method.

RESULTWe find that the F. hirta decoction shows a distinct effect on reducing serum transferase. The serum transferase and the content CAT in liver homogenate were dose-related reduced, and the histopathological examination found a significantly change of the liver tissues. And the psoralean, qua the mainly component, shows the same effect.

CONCLUSIONF. hirta has the protective effect against the cocaine-induced hepatotoxicity. Psoralean is the basis.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Cocaine ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ficus ; chemistry ; Ficusin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Random Allocation