Hepatoprotective effects of baicalein against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice

Figure 2 Baicalein protects liver against carbon tetrachloride induced acute liver injury. A: Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT); B: Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST); C: Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stained liver sections of control group 3 d after carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) treatment; D: HE stained liver sections of baicalein group 3 d after CCl₄ treatment; E: Percent of necrotic areas in control group and baicalein group 2 and 3 d after CCl₄ treatment. Mice received intraperitoneal CCl₄ at the dosage of 1 mL/kg body weight (1:3 diluted in corn oil). Mice in baicalein group were orally administered baicalein (80 mg/kg) 1 h after CCl₄ injection, twice a day for 4 d (original magnification, ×100). Necrosis with clusters of inflammatory cells around central vein was seen in control group; and histological recovery with only inconspicuous necrosis remaining around central vein, and very few inflammatory cells were present in the baicalein group. Control mice were treated with an equal volume of CMC-Na. Values represent mean ± SE (n = 6). P < 0.05, P < 0.01 between control and baicalein groups.