New antihepatotoxic cerebroside from Lycium chinense fruits

Two cerebrosides isolated from Lycium chinense fruits have been characterized as 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S, 3R,4E,8Z)-2-N-palmitoyloctadecasphinga-4,8-dienine+ ++ (1) and 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl -(2S,3R,4E,8Z)-2-N-(2'-hydroxypalmitoyl)octadecasph inga-4,8-dienine (2). While 2 is already known, the structure of 1 was determined by spectral and chemical studies. Incubation of CCl4-intoxicated hepatocytes with 1 and 2, respectively, significantly reduced the levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and sorbitol dehydrogenase (SDH) released by injured cells.