Bile Flow (bile + flow)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Bicarbonate-rich choleresis induced by secretin in normal rat is taurocholate-dependent and involves AE2 anion exchanger,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Jesús M. Banales
Canalicular bile is modified along bile ducts through reabsorptive and secretory processes regulated by nerves, bile salts, and hormones such as secretin. Secretin stimulates ductular cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR),dependent Cl, efflux and subsequent biliary HCO3, secretion, possibly via Cl,/HCO3, anion exchange (AE). However, the contribution of secretin to bile regulation in the normal rat, the significance of choleretic bile salts in secretin effects, and the role of Cl,/HCO3, exchange in secretin-stimulated HCO3, secretion all remain unclear. Here, secretin was administered to normal rats with maintained bile acid pool via continuous taurocholate infusion. Bile flow and biliary HCO3, and Cl, excretion were monitored following intrabiliary retrograde fluxes of saline solutions with and without the Cl, channel inhibitor 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB) or the Cl,/HCO3, exchange inhibitor 4,4,-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2,-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Secretin increased bile flow and biliary excretion of HCO3, and Cl,. Interestingly, secretin effects were not observed in the absence of taurocholate. Whereas secretin effects were all blocked by intrabiliary NPPB, DIDS only inhibited secretin-induced increases in bile flow and HCO3, excretion but not the increased Cl, excretion, revealing a role of biliary Cl,/HCO3, exchange in secretin-induced, bicarbonate-rich choleresis in normal rats. Finally, small hairpin RNA adenoviral constructs were used to demonstrate the involvement of the Na+ -independent anion exchanger 2 (AE2) through gene silencing in normal rat cholangiocytes. AE2 gene silencing caused a marked inhibition of unstimulated and secretin-stimulated Cl,/HCO3, exchange. In conclusion, maintenance of the bile acid pool is crucial for secretin to induce bicarbonate-rich choleresis in the normal rat and that this occurs via a chloride,bicarbonate exchange process consistent with AE2 function. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:266,275.) [source]


Role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in tauroursodeoxycholic acid-induced bile formation in cholestatic rat liver

HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 7 2008
Gerald Ulrich Denk
Aim:, Ursodeoxycholic acid exerts anticholestatic effects in various cholestatic disorders and experimental models of cholestasis. Its taurine conjugate (TUDCA) stimulates bile salt secretion in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRL) under physiological, non-cholestatic conditions, in part by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent mechanisms. The role of MAPK in the anticholestatic effect of TUDCA, however, is unclear. Therefore, we studied the role of MAPK in the anticholestatic effect of TUDCA in IPRL and isolated rat hepatocytes (IRH) in taurolithocholic acid (TLCA)-induced cholestasis. Methods:, Bile flow, biliary levels of 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (GS-DNP) as a marker of hepatobiliary organic anion secretion and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in hepatovenous effluate as a marker of hepatocellular damage in IPRL perfused with TUDCA and/or TLCA were determined in the presence or absence of MAPK inhibitors. In addition, phosphorylation of Erk 1/2 and p38MAPK induced by TUDCA and/or TLCA was studied by Western immunoblot in IPRL and IRH. Results:, TUDCA-induced bile flow was impaired by the Erk 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 in normal livers (,28%), but not in livers made cholestatic by TLCA. GS-DNP secretion was unaffected by PD98059 under both conditions. TUDCA-induced bile formation and organic anion secretion both in the presence and absence of TLCA were unaffected by the p38MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Erk 1/2 phosphorylation in liver tissue was unchanged after bile salt exposure for 70 min, but was transiently enhanced by TUDCA in IRH. Conclusion:, MAPK do not mediate the anticholestatic effects of TUDCA in TLCA-induced cholestasis. [source]


Investigation of the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human liver cells

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003
Liem T Vo
Summary 1.,The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human hepatoma cells. 2.,Rats received a single oral dose of peppermint oil (8.3,830 µL/kg) or valerian (0.31,18.6 g/kg), or daily oral doses of 83 µL/kg peppermint oil or 3.1 g/kg valerian for 28 days. After 24 h, rats were anaesthetized and measurements made of bile flow, liver function and in vivo sinusoidal area. Livers were then removed for histology. 3.,Bile flow was unaffected by any treatment, except acute high-dose peppermint oil (830 µL/kg; 70% increase in flow). No change in liver enzyme activity was found, except for a 45% increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. No change in sinusoidal area in vivo or in histology was found following any treatment, although pretreatment with carbon tetrachloride reduced sinusoidal bed area and produced histological damage. Incubation of human hepatoma cells with 0.5 µL/mL (but not 0.05 µL/mL) peppermint oil or 20 mg/mL (but not 2 mg/mL) valerian resulted in increased cell death. 4.,In conclusion, the present study demonstrated in vitro toxicity of high doses of valerian and peppermint oil in cultured human hepatoma cells and, at doses 2,3 orders of magnitude greater than those recommended for human use, an increase in rat bile flow after acute peppermint oil and an increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. [source]


Bicarbonate-rich choleresis induced by secretin in normal rat is taurocholate-dependent and involves AE2 anion exchanger,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2006
Jesús M. Banales
Canalicular bile is modified along bile ducts through reabsorptive and secretory processes regulated by nerves, bile salts, and hormones such as secretin. Secretin stimulates ductular cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR),dependent Cl, efflux and subsequent biliary HCO3, secretion, possibly via Cl,/HCO3, anion exchange (AE). However, the contribution of secretin to bile regulation in the normal rat, the significance of choleretic bile salts in secretin effects, and the role of Cl,/HCO3, exchange in secretin-stimulated HCO3, secretion all remain unclear. Here, secretin was administered to normal rats with maintained bile acid pool via continuous taurocholate infusion. Bile flow and biliary HCO3, and Cl, excretion were monitored following intrabiliary retrograde fluxes of saline solutions with and without the Cl, channel inhibitor 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)-benzoic acid (NPPB) or the Cl,/HCO3, exchange inhibitor 4,4,-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2,-disulfonic acid (DIDS). Secretin increased bile flow and biliary excretion of HCO3, and Cl,. Interestingly, secretin effects were not observed in the absence of taurocholate. Whereas secretin effects were all blocked by intrabiliary NPPB, DIDS only inhibited secretin-induced increases in bile flow and HCO3, excretion but not the increased Cl, excretion, revealing a role of biliary Cl,/HCO3, exchange in secretin-induced, bicarbonate-rich choleresis in normal rats. Finally, small hairpin RNA adenoviral constructs were used to demonstrate the involvement of the Na+ -independent anion exchanger 2 (AE2) through gene silencing in normal rat cholangiocytes. AE2 gene silencing caused a marked inhibition of unstimulated and secretin-stimulated Cl,/HCO3, exchange. In conclusion, maintenance of the bile acid pool is crucial for secretin to induce bicarbonate-rich choleresis in the normal rat and that this occurs via a chloride,bicarbonate exchange process consistent with AE2 function. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;43:266,275.) [source]


Secretin activation of the apical Na+ -dependent bile acid transporter is associated with cholehepatic shunting in rats,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 5 2005
Gianfranco Alpini
The role of the cholangiocyte apical Na+ -dependent bile acid transporter (ASBT) in bile formation is unknown. Bile acid absorption by bile ducts results in cholehepatic shunting, a pathway that amplifies the canalicular osmotic effects of bile acids. We tested in isolated cholangiocytes if secretin enhances ASBT translocation to the apical membrane from latent preexisting intracellular stores. In vivo, in bile duct,ligated rats, we tested if increased ASBT activity (induced by secretin pretreatment) results in cholehepatic shunting of bile acids. We determined the increment in taurocholate-dependent bile flow and biliary lipid secretion and taurocholate (TC) biliary transit time during high ASBT activity. Secretin stimulated colchicine-sensitive ASBT translocation to the cholangiocyte plasma membrane and 3H-TC uptake in purified cholangiocytes. Consistent with increased ASBT promoting cholehepatic shunting, with secretin pretreatment, we found TC induced greater-than-expected biliary lipid secretion and bile flow and there was a prolongation of the TC biliary transit time. Colchicine ablated secretin pretreatment-dependent bile acid,induced choleresis, increased biliary lipid secretion, and the prolongation of the TC biliary transit. In conclusion, secretin stimulates cholehepatic shunting of conjugated bile acids and is associated with increased cholangiocyte apical membrane ASBT. Bile acid transport by cholangiocyte ASBT can contribute to hepatobiliary secretion in vivo. (HEPATOLOGY 2005.) [source]


Role of mitogen-activated protein kinases in tauroursodeoxycholic acid-induced bile formation in cholestatic rat liver

HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 7 2008
Gerald Ulrich Denk
Aim:, Ursodeoxycholic acid exerts anticholestatic effects in various cholestatic disorders and experimental models of cholestasis. Its taurine conjugate (TUDCA) stimulates bile salt secretion in isolated perfused rat livers (IPRL) under physiological, non-cholestatic conditions, in part by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent mechanisms. The role of MAPK in the anticholestatic effect of TUDCA, however, is unclear. Therefore, we studied the role of MAPK in the anticholestatic effect of TUDCA in IPRL and isolated rat hepatocytes (IRH) in taurolithocholic acid (TLCA)-induced cholestasis. Methods:, Bile flow, biliary levels of 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (GS-DNP) as a marker of hepatobiliary organic anion secretion and activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in hepatovenous effluate as a marker of hepatocellular damage in IPRL perfused with TUDCA and/or TLCA were determined in the presence or absence of MAPK inhibitors. In addition, phosphorylation of Erk 1/2 and p38MAPK induced by TUDCA and/or TLCA was studied by Western immunoblot in IPRL and IRH. Results:, TUDCA-induced bile flow was impaired by the Erk 1/2 inhibitor PD98059 in normal livers (,28%), but not in livers made cholestatic by TLCA. GS-DNP secretion was unaffected by PD98059 under both conditions. TUDCA-induced bile formation and organic anion secretion both in the presence and absence of TLCA were unaffected by the p38MAPK inhibitor SB202190. Erk 1/2 phosphorylation in liver tissue was unchanged after bile salt exposure for 70 min, but was transiently enhanced by TUDCA in IRH. Conclusion:, MAPK do not mediate the anticholestatic effects of TUDCA in TLCA-induced cholestasis. [source]


Effect of genipin on the biliary excretion of cholephilic compounds in rats

HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008
Masaki Mikami
Aim:, Genipin, a metabolite of geniposide, is reported to stimulate the insertion of multidrug resistance protein 2 (Mrp2) in the bile canalicular membrane, and to cause choleresis by increasing the biliary excretion of glutathione, which has been considered to be a substrate of Mrp2. In the present study, the effect of colchicine on the choleretic effect of genipin was investigated. The effect of genipin on the biliary excretion of the substrates of bile salt export pump and Mrp2 was also studied. Methods:, After bile duct cannulation into rats, genipin was administered at the rate of 0.2 ,mol/min/100 g, and the effect of colchicine pretreatment (0.2 mg/100 g) was examined. Metabolites of genipin in the bile were examined by a thin layer chromatography. Taurocholate (TC), sulfobromophthalein (BSP), and pravastatin were infused at the rate of 1.0, 0.2 and 0.3 ,mol/min/100 g, respectively, and the effect of genipin co-administration was examined. Results:, Genipin increased bile flow and the biliary glutathione excretion, and those increases were not inhibited by colchicine. The biliary excretion of genipin glucuronide was less than 10% of the genipin excreted into bile. The biliary excretion of TC, BSP, and pravastatin was unchanged by genipin co-administration. Conclusion:, It was indicated that colchicine-sensitive vesicular transport has no role on the genipin-induced insertion of Mrp2 to the canalicular membrane. Choleresis of genipin is considered to be mainly due to the increased biliary glutathione excretion by genipin, not by the biliary excretion of glucuronide. TC had no effect on the biliary glutathione excretion. [source]


Exogenous melatonin enhances bile flow and ATP levels after cold storage and reperfusion in rat liver: implications for liver transplantation

JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005
Mariapia Vairetti
Abstract:, ,Although the use of melatonin in the transplantation field has been suggested, it has not been previously tested in a liver cold-storage model. We used a rat liver model to study (a) the dose-dependent effect of melatonin on bile production, and (b) the potential of melatonin to improve liver function after cold-storage. Male Wistar rats were perfused with Krebs,Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (KHB) at 37°C without or with 25, 50, 100 and 200 ,m melatonin. Each dose of melatonin stimulated bile production. For cold-storage studies, livers were flushed with either University of Wisconsin (UW) or Celsior solution and stored for 20 hr at 4°C. Reperfusion (120 min) was performed with KHB at 37°C. In subsequent studies, 100 ,m melatonin were added to the perfusate during the reperfusion period. ATP and melatonin levels in the tissue were measured. Bile analysis was performed by measuring melatonin, bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (, -GT) levels in the fluid. A dose-dependent increase in bile secretion, associated with an enhanced melatonin and bilirubin levels in the bile were observed. Also, tissue levels of melatonin increased in a dose-dependent manner. When melatonin was added during the reperfusion period, bile production and bile bilirubin levels increased both with UW and Celsior solutions. The analysis of , -GT in the bile showed an increase in the Celsior-preserved liver and the addition of melatonin to the perfusate reduced this effect. Tissue ATP levels were higher when melatonin was added to the perfusion medium. Higher levels of melatonin in bile than in tissue were found. In conclusion, we demonstrate that melatonin improves significantly the restoration of liver function after cold-storage and reperfusion. [source]


Biliary inorganic phosphate as a tool for assessing cold preservation-reperfusion injury: A study in the isolated perfused rat liver model

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2 2003
Luciana L. Almada
Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a major cause of early graft dysfunction after liver transplantation. The bile flow has been suggested as an index of ischemic damage, and severely impaired bile flow seems to be predictive of poor survival in experimental studies. Looking for injury markers, biliary inorganic phosphate has the potential of being a useful endogenous marker of diminished hepatobiliary function because this anion is excreted in the bile by a paracellular pathway and it can detect changes in permeability. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of cold preservation-reperfusion of the liver on bile flow and bile inorganic phosphate and their relationship with storage-related graft failure. The isolated and perfused rat liver was used to evaluate the injury for ischemia-reperfusion. The intrahepatic resistance, lactate dehydrogenase release, and potassium and biliary inorganic phosphate concentration were used to estimate viability and function of freshly isolated or cold-preserved livers. The intrahepatic resistance and the bile flow were consistent and significantly decreased throughout the perfusion time in relation to the increment in storage. Inorganic phosphate is more concentrated in bile from preserved livers, showing an alteration in paracellular pathway, confirmed by the biliary excretion of horseradish peroxidase. After preservation, concentration and excretion of the paracellular marker were increased during the first peak. The second peak appears earlier in preserved livers (10 minutes) with a different shape but without changes in concentration. In conclusion, inorganic phosphate in bile shows changes in paracellular permeability as occurs in livers after 48 hours of cold preservation. [source]


Identification of Urinary Biomarkers Useful for Distinguishing a Difference in Mechanism of Toxicity in Rat Model of Cholestasis

BASIC AND CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Kenji Ishihara
To inhibit biliary secretion of bile, cyclosporine A was administered to male Sprague,Dawley rats. Obstruction of bile flow was induced by administration of 4,4,-methylene dianiline, ,-naphthylisothiocyanate or bile duct ligation. Clinical pathological and histopathological examinations were performed to confirm cholestatic injury and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data for urine samples were analysed to determine similarities and differences in profiles of metabolites using the Spotfire®. In cyclosporine A-treated groups, serum total bilirubin and bile acid were significantly increased but no remarkable hepatic histopathological-changes were observed. In 4,4,-methylene dianiline-, ,-naphthylisothiocyanate- and bile duct ligation-treated groups, serum alkaline phosphatase, ,-glutamyltranspeptidase and total bilirubin levels increased significantly, and hepatic histopathological-changes were observed. On urinary 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectral analysis, area intensities derived from 0.66 to 1.90 ppm were decreased by cyclosporine A, whereas they were increased by other treatments. These metabolites were identified using the NMR suite® as bile acids, branched-chain amino acids, n-butyrate, propionate, methyl malonate and valerate. These metabolites were further investigated by K-means clustering analysis. The cluster of these metabolites is considered to be altered by cholestasis. We conclude that bile acids, valine and methyl malonate have a possibility to be urinary cholestatic biomarkers, which distinguish a difference in mechanism of toxicity. 1H nuclear magnetic resonance metabonomics thus appears to be useful for determining the mechanisms of toxicity and can be front-loaded in drug safety evaluation and biomarker discovery. [source]


Biliary clearance of bromosulfophthalein in anesthetized and freely moving conscious rat

BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 2 2009
Ju-Hee Oh
Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anesthesia on the pharmacokinetics of bromosulfophthalein (BSP) with focus on biliary clearance. The plasma concentration profile and biliary clearance of intravenously administered BSP was compared in conscious freely moving bile duct catheterized rats and rats anesthetized with ketamine or Zoletil. The plasma concentration of BSP in conscious rats was similar to that of anesthetized rats, irrespective of the anesthetic used. There was no significant difference in the volume of distribution, total body clearance and mean residence time of BSP between the groups. The biliary clearance of BSP in rats anesthetized using ketamine or Zoletil was also similar to that of conscious rats. Only bile flow was increased under anesthetization compared with conscious rats. These results demonstrate that the pharmacokinetics of BSP, including biliary clearance, in ketamine or Zoletil anesthetized rats is virtually identical to that in conscious rats and it may be related to blood flow limited hepatic disposition of BSP. Furthermore, they suggest the conscious rat model does not offer methodological advantage and the anesthesia model is suitable for a realistic approximation of the hepatobiliary transport of BSP. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Decreased biliary excretion of tributylmethyl ammonium in cholestyramine pretreated rats due to reduced formation of ion-pair complexes with hepatic bile salts

BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 9 2007
M. K. Choi
Abstract The hypothesis that higher molecular weight (MW) quaternary ammoniums (QAs) form lipophilic ion-pair complexes with bile salts in the liver, and are subsequently excreted into bile via a canalicular transporter, P-gp, was re-examined in the present study for its validity. The biliary excretion of tributylmethyl ammonium (TBuMA), a QA with a MW of 200, in bile salt-depleted rats was determined. Depletion was induced by a daily oral administration of a resin, cholestyramine, at a dose of 0.5,g/kg for 2 consecutive weeks, which decreased the concentration of total bile salts in the liver by 38%. When TBuMA was administered intravenously (12,µmol/kg) to these rats, the plasma level, area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC), systemic clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (Vss) of the compound remained unchanged, whereas bile flow (23.03 vs 16.94,µl/min, p<0.05) and biliary clearance (CLbile, 12.75 vs 5.34,ml/min/kg, p<0.01) were decreased significantly. These results implied the biliary clearance of TBuMA in rats with bile salt depletion was significantly decreased as a result of decreased ion-pair complexation of TBuMA. The above results are consistent with our hypothesis and the existence of a MW threshold (i.e. 200±50 for rats) for the biliary excretion of QAs. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Effects of bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, on bile salt export pump and multidrug resistance,associated protein 2

BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND DRUG DISPOSITION, Issue 1 2007
Yuji Mano
Abstract The bile salt export pump (BSEP/Bsep/ABCB11) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (MRP2/Mrp2/ABCC2) are involved in bile acid-dependent and -independent bile secretion, respectively. It has been reported that bosentan, an endothelin receptor antagonist, inhibits Bsep, which may lead to cholestatic liver injury due to the intracellular accumulation of bile salts, while increasing bile salt-independent bile flow. Thus, in this study, the effects of bosentan on BSEP/Bsep and MRP2/Mrp2 were evaluated using membrane vesicles derived from Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf) 9 cells, which express these transporters. The adenosine 5,-triphosphate (ATP)-dependent uptake of 3H-taurocholic acid into membrane vesicles for BSEP/Bsep was inhibited by bosentan, and its IC50 values were 76.8 and 101 µM for BSEP and Bsep, respectively. In contrast, bosentan stimulated the MRP2/Mrp2-mediated ATP-dependent vesicular transport of 3H-estradiol 17,-glucuronide by shifting the sigmoidal dependence of transport rate on substrate concentration to a more hyperbolic one. Collectively, these results suggest that bosentan inhibits BSEP in humans with a similar potency to rats, and that increased bile salt-independent flow in rats by bosentan is at least partly attributable to the activation of Mrp2. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Cystic duct and Heister's "valves"

CLINICAL ANATOMY, Issue 2 2005
D. Dasgupta
Abstract The anatomy and physiology of the cystic duct have been relatively neglected by anatomists and the function of the spiral mucosal folds or "valves" of Heister, first described in 1732, remains obscure. The gross and microscopic anatomy of the cystic duct is reviewed together with results from laboratory investigations into the function of the cystic duct and its spirally arranged folds. The duct and spiral folds contain muscle fibers responsive to pharmacologic, hormonal, and neural stimuli. There is, however, no convincing evidence of a discrete muscular sphincter within the duct. Although the cystic duct is unlikely to play a major role in gallbladder filling and emptying, it appears to function as more than a passive conduit. Coordinated, graded muscular activity in the cystic duct in response to hormonal and neural stimuli may facilitate gallbladder emptying. The principal function of the internal spiral folds that are found in man and other animals may be to preserve patency of this narrow, tortuous tube rather than to regulate bile flow. Clin. Anat. 18:81,87, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Investigation of the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human liver cells

CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 10 2003
Liem T Vo
Summary 1.,The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of peppermint oil and valerian on rat liver and cultured human hepatoma cells. 2.,Rats received a single oral dose of peppermint oil (8.3,830 µL/kg) or valerian (0.31,18.6 g/kg), or daily oral doses of 83 µL/kg peppermint oil or 3.1 g/kg valerian for 28 days. After 24 h, rats were anaesthetized and measurements made of bile flow, liver function and in vivo sinusoidal area. Livers were then removed for histology. 3.,Bile flow was unaffected by any treatment, except acute high-dose peppermint oil (830 µL/kg; 70% increase in flow). No change in liver enzyme activity was found, except for a 45% increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. No change in sinusoidal area in vivo or in histology was found following any treatment, although pretreatment with carbon tetrachloride reduced sinusoidal bed area and produced histological damage. Incubation of human hepatoma cells with 0.5 µL/mL (but not 0.05 µL/mL) peppermint oil or 20 mg/mL (but not 2 mg/mL) valerian resulted in increased cell death. 4.,In conclusion, the present study demonstrated in vitro toxicity of high doses of valerian and peppermint oil in cultured human hepatoma cells and, at doses 2,3 orders of magnitude greater than those recommended for human use, an increase in rat bile flow after acute peppermint oil and an increase in alkaline phosphatase after chronic peppermint oil. [source]