Effect of Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonols on protein synthesis in primary cultured rat hepatocytes

Abstract

Garcinia kola Heckel (Guttiferae) known as Aki-ilu (meaning bitter kola) is a large economic tree indigenous to the southern part of Nigeria. Its seeds have been of interest to researchers because of its use in the treatment of various disease conditions in Nigerian traditional medicine. The effect of the Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonols GB1 and GB2 on the rate of protein synthesis in primary cultured hepatocytes from rat livers was studied in vitro. This work provides further information on the mechanism of action of the liver active principles of G. kola nuts. A dose-dependent stimulatory effect of the drugs on the rate of protein synthesis in rat hepatocytes was found. Both GB1 and GB2 showed significant stimulatory effect on liver cell regeneration. These findings demonstrate that the reported antihepatotoxic activity of the Garcinia hydroxybiflavanonols could be explained, at least in part, by their stimulatory effect on the protein synthetic apparatus. GB1 increased the rate of protein synthesis about thrice as much as silibinin, a flavonolignan with proven antihepatotoxic activity, and suggests that this compound could be a potential novel antihepatotoxic agent.