title: Echinacoside ameliorates D-galactosamine plus lipopolysaccharide-induced acute liver injury in mice via inhibition of apoptosis and inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of echinacoside, one of the phenylethanoids isolated from the stems of Cistanche salsa, a Chinese herbal medicine, on D-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute liver injury in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered GalN (650 mg/kg) together with LPS (30 μg/kg) to mice by intraperitoneal injection to induce acute liver damage. Echinacoside (60 mg/kg) was given intraperitoneally to mice at 1 h prior to GalN/LPS exposure. Mice were sacrificed at different time points following GalN/LPS treatment, and the liver and blood samples were collected for future analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It showed that GalN/LPS treatment produced severe hepatic injury, evidenced by significantly elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and abnormal histological changes such as hepatocyte necrosis or apoptosis, hemorrhage, fatty degeneration, and neutrophil infiltration. Notably, pretreatment with echinacoside remarkably improved the survival rate of GalN/LPS-treated mice and attenuated acute hepatotoxicity, as demonstrated by decreased ALT levels and improved histological signs. Echinacoside shows both anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties, characterized by a substantial inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis and a significant reduction in the inflammatory markers, including myeloperoxidase, extracellular nucleosomes, high-mobility group box 1, and inflammatory cytokines in the plasma of mice, which may be important mechanisms related to its protective effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that echinacoside can provide a pronounced protection against GalN/LPS-induced acute liver injury in mice, which may complement the available strategies for management of acute liver damage in clinical settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated TCM and Western Medicine, Beijing Youan Hospital Affiliated with Capital Medical University , Beijing, 100069 , P.R.China.
authors.forename: Xiuhui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gou
authors.forename: Huasheng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jinpeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005688:Galactosamine; D006027:Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D006027:Glycosides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D005688:Galactosamine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C060297:echinacoside
keywords: D-galactosamine; acute liver injury; apoptosis, inflammation; echinacoside; lipopolysaccharide