title: Protection from diclofenac-induced liver injury by Yulangsan polysaccharide in a mouse model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Millettia pulchra Kurz var-laxior (Dunn) Z. Wei, a wild-growing plant of the family Fabaceae is known to possess multifarious medicinal properties. Yulangsan polysaccharide (YLSPS) is a chief ingredient of its root, which has been used in Chinese traditional medicine with a long history for remedy of acute or chronic hepatitis and jaundice.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ability of the YLSPS to protect against diclofenac-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were orally treated with YLSPS daily 1h after the injection of diclofenac for 2 weeks. Dimethyl diphenyl bicarboxylate was used as a reference drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  YLSPS effectively reduced the elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase and enhanced the reduction of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver. Moreover, the content of malondialdehyde was reduced by treatment with YLSPS, and histological findings also confirmed the anti-hepatotoxic activity. In addition, YLSPS significantly inhibited proinflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin 1 beta. YLSPS also enhanced mitochondrial antioxidants and inhibited cell death by preventing the down-regulation of Bcl-2 and the up-regulation and release of Bax along with caspase 9 and 3 activity; thus, these findings confirm the involvement of mitochondria in diclofenac-induced apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that protective effects of YLSPS against diclofenac-induced acute hepatic injury may rely on its effect on reducing oxidative stress, suppressing inflammatory responses, and improving drug-metabolizing enzyme activity in the liver.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Jianchun
authors: J
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Vanphuc
authors: V
authors: Nguyen
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangxi Medical College, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors: Xiaojun
authors: X
authors: Tang
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Jinbin
authors: J
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Lin
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Zefeng
authors: Z
authors: Lai
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Vanminh
authors: V
authors: Doan
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China.
authors: Qiuqiao
authors: Q
authors: Xie
authors: Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, PR China. Electronic address: huangrenbin518@163.com.
authors: Renbin
authors: R
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017209:Apoptosis; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D051379:Mice; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D011134:Polysaccharides; D004008:Diclofenac
keywords: Diclofenac; Hepatoprotection; Yulangsan polysaccharide