Baicalin provides protection against fluoxetine-induced hepatotoxicity by modulation of oxidative stress and inflammation

Figure 1 Structure of baicalin.

Figure 2 Effect of baicalin on body weight of rats with fluoxetine-induced toxicity. Group 1: Control rats; group 2: Fluoxetine treated rats (10 mg/kg); group 3: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (50 mg/kg); group 4: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 5: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + silymarin (100 mg/kg); group 6: Baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 7: Silymarin (100 mg/kg). Weight of rats is shown in grams. Data represent mean ± SD, n = 6. ^aRepresents a significant difference compared with group 1, P < 0.05; ^brepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.05; ^crepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.05; ^drepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.0005.

Figure 3 Effect of baicalin on serum enzymatic markers of liver function in fluoxetine-induced hepatotoxicity. A: Aspartate transaminase; B: Alanine transaminase; C: Alkaline phosphatase. Group 1: Control rats; group 2: Fluoxetine treated rats (10 mg/kg); group 3: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (50 mg/kg); group 4: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 5: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + silymarin (100 mg/kg); group 6: Baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 7: Silymarin (100 mg/kg). Data represent mean ± SD, n = 6. ^aRepresents a significant difference compared with group 1, P < 0.05; ^brepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.05; ^crepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.005; ^drepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.0001. AST: Aspartate transaminase; ALT: Alanine transaminase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase.

Figure 4 Effect of baicalin on serum bilirubin, total protein and albumin in fluoxetine-induced hepatotoxic rats. A: Serum bilirubin; B: Serum total protein; C: Serum albumin. Group 1: Control rats; group 2: Fluoxetine treated rats (10 mg/kg); group 3: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (50 mg/kg); group 4: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 5: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + silymarin (100 mg/kg); group 6: Baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 7: Silymarin (100 mg/kg). Data represent mean ± SD, n = 6. ^aRepresents a significant difference from group 1, P < 0.05; ^brepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.05; ^crepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.005; ^drepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.0001.

Figure 5 Effect of baicalin on serum inflammatory markers in fluoxetine treated rats. A: Tumor necrosis factor-α; B: Interleukin (IL)-6; C: IL-10; D: Interferon-γ. The values are expressed in pg/mL. Group 1: Control rats; group 2: Fluoxetine treated rats (10 mg/kg); group 3: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (50 mg/kg); group 4: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 5: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) + silymarin (100 mg/kg); group 6: Baicalin (100 mg/kg); group 7: Silymarin (100 mg/kg). Data represent mean ± SD, n = 6. ^aRepresents a significant difference compared with group 1, P < 0.05; ^brepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.05; ^crepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.005; ^drepresents a significant difference compared with group 2, P < 0.0001. TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; IL: Interleukin; IFN: Interferon.

Figure 6 Histological sections of rat liver. A: Normal control (the black arrow shows normal intercellular spaces and negligible vacuolation); B: Fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) treated (the black arrows show increased vacuolation and cellular degeneration, blue arrows indicate presence of inflammatory cells); C: Fluoxetine + baicalin (50 mg/kg) treated (blue arrows indicate a patch of inflammatory cell infiltration); D: Fluoxetine + baicalin (100 mg/kg) treated (the black arrow depicts regular cellular pattern and normal sinusoidal space, blue arrow indicates fewer inflammatory cells); E: Fluoxetine + silymarin (100 mg/kg) treated (the black arrows show normal cells and intercellular spaces similar to normal control); F: Baicalin (100 mg/kg) treated (the black arrows show normal cellular structure); G: Silymarin (100 mg/kg) treated (the black arrows depict normal cells and intercellular spaces).