Original Article
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2012; 18(45): 6605-6613
Published online Dec 7, 2012. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i45.6605
Hepatoprotective effects of baicalein against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice
Hai-Li Huang, Ya-Jing Wang, Qing-Yu Zhang, Bin Liu, Fang-Yuan Wang, Jing-Jing Li, Run-Zhi Zhu
Hai-Li Huang, Qing-Yu Zhang, Bin Liu, Run-Zhi Zhu, Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong Province, China
Ya-Jing Wang, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
Fang-Yuan Wang, Central Research Laboratory, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200240, China
Jing-Jing Li, Laboratory of Regeneromics, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, China
Author contributions: Huang HL and Wang YJ contributed equally to the manuscript; Zhu RZ designed the research; Huang HL, Wang YJ, Zhang QY, Liu B, Wang FY and Li JJ performed the research and analyzed the data; Zhu RZ wrote the paper.
Supported by The Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities No. JKQ2011008, JKQ2011010; Postdoctoral Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China, No. 1101029C
Correspondence to: Dr. Run-Zhi Zhu, Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical College, Zhanjiang 524001, Guangdong Province, China. zhurunzhi@yahoo.cn
Telephone: +86-759-2387569 Fax: +86-759-2387569
Received: June 28, 2012
Revised: September 6, 2012
Accepted: September 29, 2012
Published online: December 7, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of baicalein against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in mice.

METHODS: Mice were orally administered with baicalein after CCl4 injection, and therapeutic baicalein was given twice a day for 4 d. The anti-inflammation effects of baicalein were assessed directly by hepatic histology and serum alanine aminotranferease and aspartate aminotransferase measurement. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen was used to evaluate the effect of baicalein in promoting hepatocyte proliferation. Serum interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and liver IL-6, TNF-α, transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) genes expression were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: CCl4-induced acute liver failure model offers a survival benefit in baicalein-treated mice. The data indicated that the mRNA levels of IL-6 and TNF-α significantly increased within 12 h after CCl4 treatment in baicalein administration groups, but at 24, 48 and 72 h, the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α was kept at lower levels compared with the control. The expression of TGF-α, HGF and EGF was enhanced dramatically in baicalein administration group at 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. Furthermore, we found that baicalein significantly elevated the serum level of TNF-α and IL-6 at the early phase, which indicated that baicalein could facilitate the initiating events in liver regeneration.

CONCLUSION: Baicalein may be a therapeutic candidate for acute liver injury. Baicalein accelerates liver regeneration by regulating TNF-α and IL-6 mediated pathways.

Keywords: Baicalein; Carbon tetrachloride; Liver injury; Liver regeneration; Hepatocyte proliferation