The Hepatoprotective Effects Of Coptisine On Carbon Tetrachloride Induced Acute Liver Damage In Mice

Abstract

Background:Liver is one of the body's important vital metabolic organ. World health organization(WHO) has reported that millions people were killed by liver disease, ever year. This study investigated that if coptisine has protective-effect on the CCl4-induced acute liver damage in mice.

Methods: Coptisine, an isoquinoline alkaloid from Coptis chinensis, was administered at the doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg (p.o.) to mice for 6 days. At the 6th day, intraperitoneally inject CCl4 (0.2%, v/v in olive oil, 10ml/kg) after coptisine administration for 1 h. The mice were sacrificed after 24 hours.

Results: The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in CCl4-intoxicated mice was raised and markedly suppressed by coptisine. The expression of Interleukin 6(IL-6), phosphorylated phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells(NF-kB) were increase in CCl4-intoxicated mice and significantly decrease by coptisine. Histopathological changes were reduced and the expression was markedly attenuated by coptisine 20 mg/kg.

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that coptisine could be effective in protecting the liver from acute CCl4-induced injury. The hepatoprotective mechanisms of coptisine may through regulate the IL-6 pathway.