title: The role of apigenin in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study is to evaluate pathologic changes in the pancreatic parenchyma in an experimental model of acute pancreatitis (AP) following bilio-pancreatic duct ligation. An effort was made to clarify the role of apigenin, a substance that is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory role and its likely beneficial activity to the pancreatic parenchyma following AP in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty-six male Wistar rats 3-4 mo old and weighing 220-350 g were used. At time 0, the following groups were randomly assigned: group sham: rats were subjected to virtual surgery; group control: rats were subjected to surgery for induction of AP, by ligation of the bilio-pancreatic duct; group apigenin: rats were subjected to surgery for induction of AP and enteral feeding with apigenin. Pathologic changes of the pancreatic parenchymal and myeloperoxidase activity were measured at predetermined time intervals 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the pathologic reports, by comparing the control group with the apigenin group, an improvement of pancreatic tissue architecture following apigenin administration was observed. Inflammatory infiltration, edema, ductal dilation, and necrosis were reduced following apigenin administration over time (P = 0.049, P = 0.228, P = 0.387, P = 0.046). Treatment with apigenin significantly reduced the bilio-pancreatic duct ligation and evoked an increase in pancreatic myeloperoxidase activity (P = 0.030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral apigenin administration in rats, following experimentally induced pancreatitis, seems to protect the pancreatic tissue. Thus, apigenin administration to humans could potentially ameliorate the damages to the pancreas.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. pav.lampropoulos@gmail.com
authors.forename: Pavlos
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lampropoulos
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lambropoulou
authors.forename: Apostolos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papalois
authors.forename: Neofitos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Basios
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manousi
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Simopoulos
authors.forename: Alexandra K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tsaroucha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047310:Apigenin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004487:Edema / Q000517:prevention & control; D008026:Ligation; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D019283:Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D047310:Apigenin; D009195:Peroxidase