Hepatotoxic Effects of 1-Furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone, a New Anti-Inflammatory Agent, in Mice

Abstract

-1-Furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone (FPP-3) has recently been synthesized and characterized to have an anti-inflammatory activity through the inhibition of the production of nitric oxide. In the present study, adverse effects of FPP-3 on hepatic functions were determined in female BALB/c mice. When mice were administered with FPP-3 at 125, 250 or 500 mg/kg for 7 consecutive days orally, FPP-3 significantly increased absolute and relative weights of liver with a dose-dependent manner. In addition, FPP-3 administration dramatically increased the hepatotoxicity parameters in serum at 500 mg/kg, in association of hepatic necrosis. FPP-3 significantly induced several phase I enzyme activities. To elucidate the possible mechanism(s) involved in FPP-3 induced hepatotoxicity, we investigated the hepatic activities of free radical generating and scavenging enzymes and the level of hepatic lipid peroxidation. FPP-3 treatment significantly elevated the hepatic lipid peroxidation, measured as the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, and the activity of superoxide dismutase. Taken together, the present data indicated that reactive oxygen species might be involved in FPP-3-induced hepatotoxicity.

Immunotoxicological Investigation of 1-furan-2-yl-3-pyridin-2-yl-propenone in Female BALB/c Mice

“…In our previous study of hepatotoxicity evaluation, FPP-3 was hepatotoxic at a very high dose (Jeon et al, 2009). To our knowledge, however, toxicological effects of FPP-3 on immune functions in mice have not been reported yet.…”