Glycyrrhizin protects mice from concanavalin A-induced hepatitis without affecting cytokine expression.
The administration of concanavalin A (Con A) to mice induces cytokine-dependent hepatitis. In the present study, the effect of glycyrrhizin on Con A-induced hepatitis was examined. Treatment of mice with Con A (0.2 mg/mouse, i.v.) induced elevation of the plasma transaminase activities at 24 h. Mice were treated with glycyrrhizin (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.), and glycyrrhizin at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg inhibited the Con A-induced elevation of the plasma transaminase activities. At 1 h after Con A treatment, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 proteins were released into the plasma. Although treatment with glycyrrhizin at 200 mg/kg inhibited Con A-induced hepatitis, it did not affect the release of any of these Con A-induced cytokines into the plasma. The present results clearly show that glycyrrhizin inhibited Con A-induced hepatitis without affecting cytokine expression.
Research Laboratories, Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd., Misato, Saitama 341-0005, Japan.
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Okamoto
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Kanda
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003208:Concanavalin A; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase