Genipin is a metabolite derived from the herbal medicine
Inchinko-to. Little is known about the mechanism of
genipin action on acute liver injury through inflammatory
cytokines. We examined the effects of
genipin on production of
TNF-alpha in vivo and in vitro. Mice were given GalN/LPS with or without
genipin treatment. All mice not given
genipin died within 12h. But in mice given
genipin, 8 of 15 mice survived for 24h after GalN/LPS administration. Histologically, hepatic
necrosis and inflammatory cells infiltration were significantly slight in mice given
genipin. Serum AST and ALT activity were significantly lower in mice given
genipin. Serum and liver homogenate
TNF-alpha levels were significantly lower in mice given
genipin. However, in
IL-6 and IL-1beta, there were no significant differences in mice given and not given
genipin.
TNF-alpha,
NF-kappaB activation and
TNF-alpha mRNA expression in a cultured mouse macrophage-like cell line J774.1 were significantly suppressed by
genipin administration. In conclusion, the present findings suggest that
genipin, a metabolite derived form the herbal medicine
Inchinko-to improved acute
liver dysfunction by suppressive effect of
TNF-alpha production.