Effect of baicalin of the expression of NF-κB in acute liver failure in rats

Objective To observe the expression of NF-κB in acute liver failure in rats and the effect of baicalin on the expression of NF-κB.Methods 106 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group and baicalin group.The model group and baicalin group produced the animal model of acute liver failure by intraperitoneal injection with D-galactosamine (D-GalN) .Baicalin (120 mg/kg) was treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) at every 12 h after D-GalN was injected in rats.We chose 6 rats randomly at the time of 24, 72, 120 and 168 h from model group and baicalin group for detecting the indexes we needed.The levels of ALT、AST and TBil in serum were detected with automatic biochemical analyzer.Sections of liver tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and were observed under optical microscope.RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) was used to study the expression of NF-κB, TNF α and caspase-3 mRNA in the liver.NF-κB in rat liver was determined at different time points with immunohistochemical method.Results The 168 hours survival rate of therapy group was significantly higher than the model group (P<0.05) .Compared with model group, the levels of ALT、AST and TBil of baicalin group were significantly reduced, the discrepancy between model group and baicalin group had statistical significance (P<0.01 or 0.05) .Compared with model group, the tendency of NF-κB, TNF α and Caspase-3 mRNA expression in baicalin group was in accordance with the model group, which reached a peak at 72 h, the expressions were significantly less than model group, and the discrepancy between model group and baicalin group had statistical significance (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.001) .The tendency of NF-κB protein expression in baicalin group was in accordance with the model group, the expressions at 72 hours were significantly less than model group, and the discrepancy between model group and baicalin group had statistical significance (P=0.017) .Conclusion Baicalin can protect rats against acute liver failure by down-regulating NF-κB, TNF α and Caspase-3 expression in liver tissue and reducing of pro-inflammatory cytokines.