Assay methods for antihepatotoxic activity using peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured hepatocytes1

Conditions were investigated to devise IN VITRO assay methods for antihepatotoxic activity using peroxide-induced damage in primary cultured rat liver cells. Utilizing linoleic acid peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide and adenosine diphosphate/Fe (3+), satisfactory assay procedures were established. Some natural products known to exert liver-protective effects IN VIVO were screened to reveal that glycyrrhetinic acid, glycyrrhizin, cynarin, silybin and desoxypodophyllotoxin showed similar antihepatotoxic activity in these four assay methods.