title: Protective effects of Ginsenoside Rg1 against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in mice through suppression of inflammation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is one of the principal cellular energy sensors participating in maintenance of energy balance but recent evidences also suggested that AMPK might be involved in the regulation of inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) was used to investigate the potential roles of AMPK in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepato-toxicity. The experimental data indicated that treatment with Rg1 significantly decreased the elevation of plasma aminotransferases and alleviated hepatic histological abnormalities in CCl4-exposed mice. Treatment with Rg1 also inhibited the increase of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA), the induction of TNF-α, IL-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide and the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-3 and MMP-9 in mice exposed to CCl4. These effects were associated with suppressed nuclear accumulation of NF-κB p65.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicated that Rg1 effectively suppressed the inflammatory responses and alleviated liver damage induced by CCl4, implying that AMPK activation might be beneficial for ameliorating inflammation-based liver damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, PR China.
authors.forename: Yao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.affiliation: Taizhou Institute for Food and Drug Control, Taizhou 225300, PR China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
authors.forename: Ma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chunhua
authors.affiliation: Soochow University Affiliated Children's Hospital, Suzhou 215003, PR China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Danhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Jianguo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, PR China. Electronic address: Chengzqsuzhou@163.com.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zongqi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, PR China. Electronic address: Baojasuzhou@126.com.
authors.forename: Bao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jian-An
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002681:China; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D036145:Ginsenosides; D020011:Protective Agents
keywords: CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity; Ginsenoside Rg1; Inflammation