title: Cepharanthine alleviates liver injury in a rodent model of limb ischemia-reperfusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Limb ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) causes remote organ injury (e.g., liver injury). Oxidation and inflammation are crucial mechanisms. We investigated the effects of cepharanthine, a potent antioxidative and anti-inflammatory drug, on alleviating liver injury induced by limb I/R.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to receive sham operation (Sham), Sham plus cepharanthine, I/R, or I/R plus cepharanthine and designated as the Sham, Sham+Cep, I/R, or I/R+Cep group, respectively (n = 6 in each group). I/R was induced by applying rubber band tourniquets high around each hind limb for 3 hours followed by reperfusion for 24 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) of the Sham and Sham+Cep groups were low, and the levels of AST and ALT of the I/R group were significantly higher than those of the Sham group (both p<0.001). By contrast, the AST and ALT of the I/R+Cep group were significantly lower than those of the I/R group (both p<0.001). The hepatic levels of nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)/prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) of the Sham and Sham+Cep groups were also low. As expected, the NO, MDA, MIP-2, IL-6, and COX-2/PGE2 of the I/R group were significantly higher than those of the Sham group (all p<0.001). By contrast, the NO, MDA, MIP-2, IL-6, and COX-2/PGE2 of the I/R+Cep group were significantly lower than those of the I/R group (all p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cepharanthine alleviates liver injury in a rodent model of limb I/R. The mechanisms may involve reducing oxidation and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yin-Kuang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Su-Cheng
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chang
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan. Electronic address: huangcj1112@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Chun-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000517:prevention & control*; D052117:Benzodioxoles
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles
keywords: COX-2; chemokine; cytokine; inflammation; oxidation; prostaglandin