title: Emodin has a protective effect in cases of severe acute pancreatitis via inhibition of nuclear factor‑κB activation resulting in antioxidation.
abstract: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) accounts for up to 20% of acute pancreatitis (AP) cases. The absence of effective treatment options has resulted in a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Emodin is a major component of the Chinese herb rhubarb, which has been widely used in the treatment of numerous diseases, including inflammation and cancer. There are a limited number of studies however, that have investigated the effectiveness of emodin in the treatment of SAP. The present study used a rat model of SAP, to investigate the effect and molecular mechanisms of emodin treatment. Administration of emodin was identified to significantly attenuate SAP, as determined by serum amylase analysis and histological assessment of edema, vacuolization, inflammation and necrosis (P<0.01). Furthermore, treatment with emodin markedly inhibited nuclear factor (NF)‑κB DNA‑binding activity (P<0.01) and the serum expression levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α, interleukin (IL)‑6 and IL‑1β (P<0.05). This attenuation was associated with decreased malondialdehyde and increased superoxide dismutase levels in the pancreatic tissues and serum (P<0.05). This study indicated that administration of exogenous emodin had therapeutic effects on the severity of SAP. The mechanism may be due to inhibition of NF‑κB activation resulting in an antioxidation response, which can subsequently suppress the expression of cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Wei-Yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yu-Fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Ai-Hua
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yong-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Min-Min
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zu-Kang
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200025, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yao-Zong
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Song-Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000681:Amylases / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004642:Emodin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D000681:Amylases; D004642:Emodin