Puerarin attenuates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver oxidative stress and hyperlipidaemia in mouse by JNK/c-Jun/CYP7A1 pathway.
Puerarin (PU), a natural flavonoid, has been reported to have many benefits and medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of puerarin on hepatic oxidative stress and hyperlipidaemia in mice exposed to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Male ICR mice were injected with CCl4 with or without puerarin co-administration (200 and 400 mg/kg intragastrically once-daily) for 8 weeks. Our data showed that puerarin significantly prevented CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity, indicated by both diagnostic indicators of the liver damage (serum aminotransferase levels) and histopathological analysis. Puerarin decreased the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the protein carbonyl content (PCO) in the liver of CCl4-treated mice. Puerarin also restored the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the liver. Furthermore, the increase in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) induced by CCl4 was effectively suppressed by puerarin. The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level in the CCl4 treatment mice was also increased by puerarin. Western blot analysis showed that puerarin remarkably inhibited hyperlipidaemia by regulating the expression of phosphorylated Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), phosphorylated c-Jun protein and cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in the liver of CCl4-treated mice. Altogether, these results suggest that puerarin could protect the CCl4-induced liver injury and hyperlipidaemia by reducing reactive oxygen species S production, renewing the total antioxidant capacity and influencing expression of hepatic lipid biosynthesis and metabolism genes.
School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, China.
Jie-Qiong
JQ
Ma
Jie
J
Ding
Hai
H
Zhao
Chan-Min
CM
Liu
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007529:Isoflavones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D007529:Isoflavones; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; C502772:Cyp7a1 protein, mouse; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C033607:puerarin