title: Hepatoprotective effects of licochalcone B on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver toxicity in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of licochalcone B (LCB) in a mice model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver toxicity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatotoxicity was induced in mice by a single subcutaneous injection (SC) of CCl4. The LCB was administered orally once a day for seven days (PO) as pretreatment at three doses of 1, 5, and 25 mg/kg/day. The levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were analyzed by ELISA. The protein expression degrees of p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38) and nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NF-κB) were assayed by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity was manifested by an increase in the levels of ALT, AST, MDA, IL-6, CRP, and TNF-ɑ, and a decrease in the SOD level and GSH/GSSG ratio in the serum. The histopathological examination of the liver sections revealed necrosis and inflammatory reactions. Pretreatment with LCB decreased the levels of ALT, AST, MDA, GSSG, IL-6, CRP, TNF-ɑ, and the protein expression of p38 and NF-κB, increased the level of SOD and GSH, and normalized the hepatic histo-architecture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LCB protected the liver from CCl4-induced injury. Protection may be due to inhibition of p38 and NFκB signaling, which subsequently reduced inflammation in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Weihai Municipal Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Haifeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Laishan Branch, China.
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Yantai City Hospital for Infectious Diseases, China.
authors.forename: Ansheng
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.affiliation: Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.
authors.forename: Haili
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Jichun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Yishui Central Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Yantaishan Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, China.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Antioxidant; Carbon tetrachloride; Hepatotoxicity; Licochalcone B; NF-κB; P38