Protection ofVeratrum nigrum L. var. ussuriense Nakai alkaloidsagainst ischemia-reperfusion injury of the rat liver

Abstract

AIM:To investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms of Veratrum nigrum L.var. ussuriense Nakai alkaloids (VnA) on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. METHODS:Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups (n = 10 in each): (A) Control group (the sham operation group); (B) I/R group (pretreated with normal saline); (C) Small-dose (10 mg/kg) VnA pretreatment group; (D) Large-dose (20 mg/kg) VnA pretreatment group. Hepatic ischemia/ reperfusion (Hepatic I/R) was induced by occlusion of the portal vein and the hepatic artery for 90 min, followed by reperfusion for 240 min. The pretreatment groups were administered with VnA intraperitoneally, 30 min before surgery, while the control group and I/R group were given equal volumes of normal saline. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and nitric oxide (NO) content in the liver tissue at the end of reperfusion were determined and liver function was measured. The expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin (ES) were detected by immunohistochemical examinations and Western blot analyses. RESULTS:The results showed that hepatic I/R elicited a significant increase in the plasma levels of alanine .4 IU/L, P < 0.01, P < 0.01; MPO: 2.57 ± 0.13 U/g vs 2.13 ± 0.13 U/g, 2.07 ± 0.05 U/g, P < 0.01, P < 0.01; NO: 78.39 ± 2.28 mmol/g protein vs 71.11 ± 1.73 mmol/g protein, 68.58 ± 1.95 mmol/g protein, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The activity of SOD (361.75 ± 16.22 U/mg protein vs 263.19 ± 12.10 U/mg protein, P < 0.01) in the liver tissue was decreased after I/R, which was enhanced by VnA pretreatment (263.19 ± 12.10 U/mg protein vs 299.40 ± 10.80 U/mg protein, 302.09 ± 14.80 U/mg protein, P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Simultaneously, the histological evidence of liver hemorrhage, polymorphonuclear neutrophil infiltration and the overexpression of ICAM-1 and E-selectin in the liver tissue were observed, all of which were attenuated in the VnA pretreated groups. CONCLUSION:The results demonstrate that VnA pretreatment exerts significant protection against hepatic I/R injury in rats. The protective effects are possibly associated with enhancement of antioxidant capacity, reduction of inflammatory responses and suppressed expression of ICAM-1 and E-selectin.

Protective effect of JBP485 on concanavalin A-induced liver injury in mice

“…The induction and maintenance of inflammation requires the adhesion of lymphocytes to target cells. Con A induces direct biological change in hepatocytes, resulting in hepatic injury by activated lymphocytes 18 . The pro‐inflammatory state is an early step in the inflammatory cascade that promotes the attraction, adherence and subendothelial migration of mononuclear cells to the liver 16 .…”

Protective effect of JBP485 on concanavalin A-induced liver injury in mice

“…Con A induces direct biological change in hepatocytes, resulting in hepatic injury by activated lymphocytes. [18] The pro-inflammatory state is an early step in the inflammatory cascade that promotes the attraction, adherence and subendothelial migration of mononuclear cells to the liver. [16] The expression of the adhesion molecules is a hallmark event in the development of the pro-inflammatory state in endothelial cells.…”

Effect of the Interaction of Veratrum Nigrum with Panax Ginseng on Estrogenic Activity In Vivo and In Vitro

“…VN has ability to cause nausea and vomiting, it is applied to dyspnea in epilepsy or stroke patients8. Studies have revealed that VN can decrease blood pressure and heart rate in hypertensive rats9, and it affords significant protection against hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats10.…”