Ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic
triterpenoid, has been reported to have many benefits and medicinal properties. However, its protective effects against
carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced hepatotoxicity have not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of UA on oxidative stress and
inflammation in liver of CCl(4) treated mice. Male ICR mice were injected with CCl(4) with or without UA co-administration (25 and 50 mg/kg intragastrically once daily) for one week. Our data showed that UA significantly prevented CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner, indicated by both diagnostic indicators of liver damage (serum
aminotransferase activities) and histopathological analysis. Moreover, CCl(4)-induced profound elevation of
reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress, as evidenced by increasing of lipid peroxidation level and depleting of the total
antioxidant capacity (TAC) level in liver, were suppressed by treatment with UA. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that UA significantly decreased
CYP2E1 expression levels and production of pro-inflammatory markers including TNF-α, IL-1β and COX-2 in CCl(4)-treated mouse liver. In exploring the underlying mechanisms of UA action, we found that UA decreased the activation of
mitogen-activated protein kinases (JNK,
p38 MAPK, ERK), which in turn inactivated the immunoregulatory
transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in liver of CCl(4) treated mice. In conclusion, these results suggested that the inhibition of CCl(4)-induced
inflammation by UA is due at least in part to its
anti-oxidant activity and its ability to modulate the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway.