title: Effect of matrine on lipopolysaccharides/D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis and tumor necrosis factor release from macrophages in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of matrine (Mat) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced fatal hepatitis in D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release from peritoneal macrophages (PMO).
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were pretreated with Mat (10, 50 mg.kg-1, i.p., bid x 3 d), and then injected i.p. LPS + D-GalN. Liver injury was assessed by quantifying plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histopathological examination. The TNF activities in the supernatants of mouse PMO stimulated with LPS in the presence of Mat (32.5-500 mg.L-1) were monitored by the L929 target cells lytic assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mat pretreatment markedly diminished hepatic injury induced by LPS in combination with D-GalN. Mat inhibited LPS-induced TNF release from mouse PMO in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mat protected the D-GalN-treated mice from the development of fatal hepatitis induced by LPS, and inhibited the LPS-induced TNF release from mouse PMO.
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory of Natural and Synthetic Drugs, College of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: X B
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011807:Quinolizines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D000093842:Matrines
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011807:Quinolizines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000093842:Matrines