Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a pathophysiologic process that occurs during
hemorrhagic shock, liver resection and
liver transplantation.
Baicalein, the main active ingredient of the Scutellaria root, exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties in the setting of I/R injury in the heart and brain. However, the role of
baicalein in liver I/R injury and its regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of
baicalein in a model of liver I/R in mice and to explore the possible mechanisms.
Baicalein (100mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 1h before
warm ischemia. Pretreatment with
baicalein protected against liver I/R injury, as indicated by the decreased serum
aminotransferase levels and the reduced histopathologic abnormalities.
Baicalein also significantly reduced cellular hepatic apoptosis in response to I/R injury. Moreover, pretreatment with
baicalein significantly inhibited
nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation and the subsequent proinflammatory
cytokine production, and decreased leukocyte infiltration. In vitro studies,
baicalein treatment inhibited the proinflammatory
cytokine production via the modulation of NF-κB signaling pathway in
lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. Taken together, these results suggest that
baicalein could protect against liver I/R injury via inhibition of
inflammation by down-regulating NF-κB activity, and suppression of cellular hepatic apoptosis.