Abstract
AIM: To investigate the effects of matrine on the release of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and the hepatic histopathology in mice with concanavalin A (Con A) induced liver injury.
METHODS: Forty-eight NIH mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: control group (group A), model group (group B), big dosage group of matrine (25 mg/kg, group C), small dosage group of matrine (12.5 mg/kg, group D) and bifendate group (group E). All mice except group A were injected with Con A (20 mg/kg) via the tail vein at the first day of experiment. Group C and group D were injected with matrine (25 mg/kg and 12.5 mg/kg, respectively) via the tail vein. Mice in group E were orally administered with bifendate (150 mg/kg). All the drugs were given once daily for 3 days consecutively. Four hours after the last administration of the drugs, mice were injected with Con A once again at the same dosage. Blood samples for determining aminotransferase (ALT) activity, IFN-γ and TNF-α concentration were collected at the 8th hour after Con A administration. Histopathological examination was also performed for liver tissue.
RESULTS: Serum IFN-γ and TNF-α in group C and group D were obviously lower than that in group B(IFN-γ: 25.5±6.1 vs 69.3±33.6 ng/L, 26.5±2.5 vs 69.3±33.6 ng/L, t = 4.0, 4.0, respectively, P<0.01; TNF-α: 49.1±11.9 vs 106.7±64.4 ng/L, 52.9±5.2 vs 106.7±64.4 ng/L, t = 2.9, 2.9, respectively, P<0.01, but there was no significant difference compared with group E(P >0.05). Serum ALT activity in group C and group D were apparently lower than that of group B (1 086.9±675.8 vs 2 477.2±529.9 nkat/L, 1 121.9±957.4 vs 2 477.2±529.9 nkat/L, t = 5.1, 3.9, respectively, P<0.01). Hepatic histopathology changes were alleviated in both group C and group D compared with group E (P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Matrine has a remarkable therapeutic effect on liver injury in mice by suppressing the release of IFN-γ and TNF-α, and alleviating the pathological changes in liver tissue.
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