Protective effect of apigenin on mouse acute liver injury induced by acetaminophen is associated with increment of hepatic glutathione reductase activity.

摘要

Protective effects of apigenin against acetaminophen-induced mouse acute liver injury were investigated. A mouse model with acute liver injury was induced by intraperitoneally adminisered acetaminophen (350 mg kg-1) after oral administration of apigenin (100 and 200 mg kg-1) for 7 days. After treatment with apigenin, levels of serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase gradually decreased, and severity of liver injury was reduced. In particular, significant changes in liver necrosis were observed in the 200 mg kg-1 apigenin group. Apigenin gradually increased hepatic glutathione reductase (GR) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) and hepatic malondialdehyde contents, but activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione S-transferase in hepatic tissues did not differ significantly between the model group and the apigenin-treated groups. Results suggest that apigenin could protect against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice, and that the mechanisms might be associated with enhancement of hepatic GSH content via increases in GR activity.