Protective effect of pinocembrin in a mouse model of liver injury induced by acetaminophen

Objective To investigate the protective effect of pinocembrin( PIN) in a mouse model of liver injury induced by acetaminophen( APAP). Methods A total of 50 healthy male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into blank group,PIN( 50 mg/kg) group,APAP( 300 mg/kg) model group,PIN( 30 mg/kg) + APAP( 300 mg/kg) experimental group,and PIN( 50 mg/kg) + APAP( 300 mg/kg) experimental group,with 10 mice in each group. The mice in the blank group and the model group were given an equal volume of normal saline by gavage,and those in the PIN group and the PIN + APAP groups were given PIN by gavage once a day,for 7 consecutive days. At 2 hours after the last administration,the mice in the model group and the PIN + APAP groups were given intraperitoneal injection of APAP 300 mg/kg once,and those in the blank group and the PIN group were given intraperitoneal injection of an equal volume of normal saline. Serum samples were collected to measure the levels of alanine aminotransferase( ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase( AST); liver tissue homogenate was prepared to measure the biochemical parameters of malondialdehyde( MDA),superoxide dismutase( SOD),and glutathione( GSH);HE staining was used to observe liver histopathology. A one-way analysis of variance was used for comparison of continuous data between multiple groups,and the least significant difference t-test was used for further comparison between two groups. Results Compared with the blank group,the APAP( 300 mg/kg) model group had significant increases in the activities of ALT and AST( P < 0. 01),suggesting that a model was successfully established,while the PIN( 30 mg/kg) + APAP( 300 mg/kg) group and the PIN( 50 mg/kg) + APAP( 300 mg/kg) group had significant reductions in the levels of ALT and AST( P < 0. 01). Compared with the blank group,the APAP( 300 mg/kg)model group had a significant increase in the level of MDA and significant reductions in SOD activity and GSH level in the liver( P < 0. 01);compared with the APAP( 300 mg/kg) model group,the PIN( 30 mg/kg) + APAP( 300 mg/kg) group and the PIN( 50 mg/kg) + APAP( 300 mg/kg) group had a significant reduction in the level of MDA and significant increases in SOD activity and GSH level in the liver( P <0. 05). Histopathological observation showed that PIN significantly improved liver injury caused by APAP and helped to maintain normal liver histomorphology. Conclusion PIN exerts a marked protective effect on liver injury induced by APAP,possibly by inhibiting oxidative stress in the liver.