Basic Research
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 28, 2008; 14(4): 541-546
Published online Jan 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.541
Influence of kavain on hepatic ultrastructure
Shuang Fu, Emine Korkmaz, Filip Braet, Quan Ngo, Iqbal Ramzan
Shuang Fu, Iqbal Ramzan, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Emine Korkmaz, Filip Braet, Australian Key Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, Electron Microscopy Unit, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Quan Ngo, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Correspondence to: Professor Iqbal Ramzan, Faculty of Pharmacy, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. dean@pharm.usyd.edu.au
Telephone: +61-2-93512077
Fax: +61-2-93516950
Received: June 27, 2007
Revised: November 6, 2007
Published online: January 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To investigate whether the major kavalactone kavain imposes adverse effects on the liver ultrastructure and function by affecting vascular and microvascular architecture and altering hepatocellular morphology.

METHODS: Kavain solution (10 &mgr;g/mL or 43.5 &mgr;mol/L) was perfused for 2 h in isolated rat livers. After standard fixation and tissue preparation, the samples were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and light microscopy (LM).

RESULTS: LM, SEM, and TEM examinations indicated kavain-treated rat livers (n = 4) displayed severe vascular and endothelial damage compared to control livers (n = 4).

CONCLUSION: The data so far support the hypothesis that kavain induces adverse effects on liver; additional investigations with other kavalactones and their effects on liver are urgently needed.

Keywords: Kava; Kavalactones; Kavain; Liver; Electron microscopy