Matrine improves 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol-induced acute cholestasis in rats.

AIM To explore the effects of matrine (MT) on acute intrahepatic cholestasis induced by 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE) in rats. METHODS Acute intrahepatic cholestasis in rats were induced by EE, and the effects of MT on acute intrahepatic cholestasis were explored and compared with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) by serum biochemical determination and bile excretion experiments. RESULTS The serum biochemical and bile biochemical results indicated that MT and UDCA had notable hepatoprotective effects by counteracting cholestasis induced by EE. The bile flow and the bile excretion of glycocholic acid (GC, a substrate of bile salt export pump [Bsep]), ketoprofen glucuronide (KPG) and rhodamine 123 (Rh123, a substrate of multidrug resistance protein 1 [MDR1]) decreased by EE, were significantly improved after administration of MT. CONCLUSION MT exhibited potential protection against EE-induced acute intrahepatic cholestasis.