The heartwood of Caesalpinia sappan L. (Leguminosae) has been used to activate blood flow, remove blood stasis, reduce swelling and relieve pain in Korean folk medicine. In this study, the antioxidant effects of this crude drug and its hepatoprotective activity on CCI₄-induced liver injury in rats were evaluated. The levels of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) reduced by CCI₄ treatment, were recovered by this crude drug. It is suggested that Caesalpinia sappan L. have antioxidant effect. The increased levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) by CCI₄. were also recovered by treatment with this crude drug. These results can be attributed to the agent's antioxidant and membrane-stabilizing actions.
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