Glycyrrhizin protects mice from concanavalin A-induced hepatitis without affecting cytokine expression.

Abstract

The administration of concanavalin A (Con A) to mice induces cytokine-dependent hepatitis. In the present study, the effect of glycyrrhizin on Con A-induced hepatitis was examined. Treatment of mice with Con A (0.2 mg/mouse, i.v.) induced elevation of the plasma transaminase activities at 24 h. Mice were treated with glycyrrhizin (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, i.p.), and glycyrrhizin at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg inhibited the Con A-induced elevation of the plasma transaminase activities. At 1 h after Con A treatment, interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-2 and interleukin-6 proteins were released into the plasma. Although treatment with glycyrrhizin at 200 mg/kg inhibited Con A-induced hepatitis, it did not affect the release of any of these Con A-induced cytokines into the plasma. The present results clearly show that glycyrrhizin inhibited Con A-induced hepatitis without affecting cytokine expression.

• Authors: T Okamoto, T Kanda
• Journal: International journal of molecular medicine (Int J Mol Med) Vol. 4 Issue 2 Pg. 149-52 (Aug 1999) ISSN: 1107-3756 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 10402481 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Cytokines
• Interleukin-2
• Interleukin-6
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Concanavalin A
• Glycyrrhizic Acid
• Interferon-gamma
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Alanine Transaminase (blood, drug effects)
• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (pharmacology)
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood, drug effects)
• Concanavalin A (adverse effects)
• Cytokines (blood, drug effects)
• Female
• Glycyrrhizic Acid (pharmacology)
• Hepatitis, Animal (blood, chemically induced, prevention & control)
• Interferon-gamma (blood)
• Interleukin-2 (blood)
• Interleukin-6 (blood)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)