ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of silymarin on hepatic microsomal and mitochondrial membrane fluidity in mice.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Liver microsomal and mitochondrial membranes were labled by ANS and DPH. Membrane fluorensent intensity (F), fluorensent polarization(P) and microviscosily(eta) of liver microsome and mitochondria were determined.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Sil increased the external membrane fluidities of liver microsome and mitochondria, and decreased the internal membrane fluidities of liver microsome and mitochondria. Pretreatment with CCl4, the external membrane fluidity of liver microsome and mitochondria were increased, and the internal membrane fluidities of liver microsome and mitochondria were decreased. After given sil 140,280 mg.kg-1, the increased external membrane fluidities of liver microsome and mitochondria were lowered, and the decreased internal membrane fluidities of liver microsome and mitochondria were enhanced in a dose-dependent manner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The protective effects of sil on liver injury may be related to the recovery of the membrane fluidities of liver microsome and mitochondria.</p>