title: Baicalin Attenuates Alcoholic Liver Injury through Modulation of Hepatic Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Sonic Hedgehog Pathway in Rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lipid accumulation, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathology of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Targeting inhibition of these features may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for ALD. Baicalin, a flavonoid isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to exert a hepatoprotective effect. However, its effects on ALD remain obscure. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of baicalin on alcohol-induced liver injury and its related mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  For in vivo experiments, rats were supplied intragastrical administration of alcohol continuously for 4 or 8 weeks, and then received baicalin treatment in the latter 4 weeks in the presence / absence of alcohol intake. Liver histology and function, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative mediators, and the components of the Sonic hedgehog pathway were evaluated. For in vitro experiments, alcohol-stimulated human normal liver cells LO2 were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baicalin treatment significantly alleviated alcoholic liver injury, improved liver function impaired by alcohol, and inhibited hepatocytes apoptosis. In addition, baicalin decreased the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GSH-Px. Furthermore, baicalin modulated the activation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) pathway. Administration of baicalin upregulated the expression of sonic hedgehog (Shh), patched (Ptc), Smoothened (Smo), and Glioblastoma-1(Gli-1). Blockade of the Shh pathway in cyclopamine abolished the effects of baicalin in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both in vivo and in vitro experimental results indicate that baicalin exerts hepatoprotective roles in alcohol-induced liver injury through inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and the regulation of the Shh pathway.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijng, People's Republic of China.
authors: Huifen
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Yanli
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Ruxue
authors: R
authors: Bai
authors: Miao
authors: M
authors: Wang
authors: Shiyu
authors: S
authors: Du
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D000431:Ethanol; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000819:agonists* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; C498521:Gli1 protein, rat; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C000594089:IL1B protein, rat; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000072081:Patched-1 Receptor; D020011:Protective Agents; C000606239:Ptch1 protein, rat; C546888:Shh protein, rat; C498555:Smo protein, rat; D000072086:Smoothened Receptor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000071676:Zinc Finger Protein GLI1; C038044:baicalin; D000431:Ethanol; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase