Inflammasomes have become an important natural sensor of host immunity, and can protect various organs against pathogenic infections, metabolic syndromes, cellular stress and cancer metastasis. Inflammasomes are intracellular multi‐protein complexes found in both parenchymal and non‐parenchymal cells, stimulating the initiation of caspase‐1 and interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐18 in response to cell danger signals. Inflammasomes induce cell death mechanisms. The potential role of NOD‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in alcoholic and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, hepatitis, nanoparticle‐induced liver injury and other liver diseases has recently attracted widespread attention from clinicians and researchers. In this review we summarize the role played by the NLRP3 inflammasome in molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms in the pathogenesis and progression of liver disease. This article aims to establish that targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome and other inflammasome components may make a significant therapeutic approach to the treatment of liver disease.

Liver disease is a serious health problem affecting people worldwide at an alarming rate. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Ganoderma lucidum against CCl4-induced liver toxicity in rats. The experimental Long Evans rats were divided into five groups, of which four groups were treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Among the CCl4 treated groups, one of the groups was treated with silymarin and two of them with ethanolic extract of G. lucidum at 100 and 200 mg/Kg body weight. The oxidative stress parameters and endogenous antioxidant enzyme concentrations were assessed by biochemical tests. Liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP were determined spectrophotometrically. Histopathological examinations were carried out to assess hepatic tissue damage and fibrosis. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was performed to determine the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β genes. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC–MS) analysis revealed that G. lucidum is rich in several phytochemicals including 6-Octadecanoic acid (55.81%), l-( +)-Ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate (18.72%), Cis-11-Eicosenamide (5.76%), and Octadecanoic acid (5.26%). Treatment with the G. lucidum extract reduced the elevated ALT, AST, ALP levels, and cellular oxidative stress markers and increased the endogenous antioxidant levels. Histopathology observations revealed that the inflammation, infiltration of immune cells, and aberration of collagen fibers in the hepatocytes were altered by the G. lucidum treatment. The increased expression of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1 β, and IL-6 were markedly suppressed by G. lucidum extract treatment. G. lucidum also prevented the suppression of protective IL-10 expression by CCl4. This study strongly suggests that G. lucidum extract possesses significant hepatoprotective activity as evidenced by reduced oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by suppression in inflammatory cytokine expression and increased protective IL-10 cytokine expression.

This study evaluates the pharmacological activity of the methanolic extract of Cissus elongata Roxb. leaves. Dried leaves of C. elongata were extracted with methanol. The crude extract was then tested to identify the presence of different phytoconstituents. To evaluate the pharmacological effects of this plant- analgesic, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic, tests were conducted using animal models. Analgesic activity was evaluated by an acetic acid-induced writhing test, formalin-induced paw-licking test paw-licking immersion test. Castor oil-induced anti-diarrheal test was performed to evaluate anti-diarrheal activity. Xylene-induced ear edema and brewer’s yeast-induced pyrexia test were performed to investigate anti-inflammatory and antipyretic activity respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of carbohydrates, tannins, fat, and fixed oil. In writhing test, the extract showed 45.68±3.99 % and 52.28±1.67 % inhibition of writhing at a dose of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg respectively whereas it was 73.09±1.01 % for the standard drug compared to the control group. In the formalin-induced paw-licking test, the percentage inhibition of licking by both doses of the extract was more in the delayed phase than in the acute phase. In the tail immersion test, 200 mg/kg dose didn’t show a significant effect but 40 0mg/kg showed significant (*P<0.05 vs. control) analgesic activity at 30 min, 60 min and 120 min time periods. In an anti-diarrheal study, 400 mg/kg dose showed (68.42±0.87 % inhibition of diarrhea) almost similar anti-diarrheal effect as the standard drug loperamide HCl (71.05±0.58 %). In xylene induced ear edema test, both doses of the extract showed little anti-inflammatory effect compared to the standard drug but both doses showed significant (*P<0.05 vs. control) reduction in body temperature in the antipyretic study.