Hypericum perforatum is a medicinal plant species containing many polyphenolic compounds, namely
flavonoids and phenolic
acids. Since polyphenolic compounds have high
antioxidant potential, we have investigated the effects of H. perforatum extract on the development of
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome caused by
zymosan (500 mg/kg, administered i.p. as a
suspension in saline) in mice. Organ failure and systemic
inflammation in rats was assessed 18 h after administration of
zymosan and/or H. perforatum extract and monitored for 12 days (for loss of
body weight and mortality). Treatment of mice with H. perforatum extract (30 mg/kg i.p., 1 and 6h after
zymosan) attenuated the peritoneal exudation and the migration of polymorphonuclear cells caused by
zymosan, pulmonary, intestinal and pancreatic injury, and renal dysfunction as well as the increase in
myeloperoxidase in the lung and intestine. Immunohistochemical analysis for
inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS),
nitrotyrosine, and
poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) revealed positive staining in lung and intestine tissues obtained from
zymosan-injected mice. The degree of staining for
nitrotyrosine, iNOS, and PAR was markedly reduced in tissue sections obtained from
zymosan-treated mice, which received H. perforatum extract. In conclusion, this study provides evidence, for the first time, that H. perforatum extract attenuates the degree of
zymosan-induced
multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in mice.