Effect of phloracetophenone on bile flow and biliary lipids in rats

Abstract

Phloracetophenone is the aglycone part of phloracetophenone glucoside, a naturally-occurring compound from the indigenous plant, Curcuma comosa. The glucoside has previously been identified as the choleretic principle of the plant. In the present study, the effects of synthetic phloracetophenone (2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone (THA)) on bile flow and biliary lipid secretion were investigated in male rats, using a bile fistula. A single intraduodenal administration of THA at doses of 10-150 mg kg-1induced a dose-dependent increase in bile flow rate. The increase in bile flow was associated with increased biliary secretion of bile acid, decreased secretion of cholesterol and phospholipid, and lowered bile lithogenic index. THA at a dose of 100 mg kg b.w.-1induced a maximal increase of bile flow rate (up to 233.8 ± 6.5% of pre-THA control) and bile acid output (up to 293.4 ± 15.2% of pre-THA control). The stimulation of bile secretion by THA was due to an increase in both bile acid-dependent and bile acid-independent flow. A considerable decrease in plasma cholesterol was also observed, which was attributed to the great choleretic activity with enhancement of biliary bile acid secretion. These findings suggest that THA may have potential for development as a therapeutic agent for treatment of cholestasis, dissolving gallstones, and reducing plasma cholesterol.