Effect of matrine on lipopolysaccharides/D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis and tumor necrosis factor release from macrophages in vitro.
Keywords
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of matrine (Mat) on lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced fatal hepatitis in D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-sensitized mice and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) release from peritoneal macrophages (PMO).
METHODS
Mice were pretreated with Mat (10, 50 mg.kg-1, i.p., bid x 3 d), and then injected i.p. LPS + D-GalN. Liver injury was assessed by quantifying plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and histopathological examination. The TNF activities in the supernatants of mouse PMO stimulated with LPS in the presence of Mat (32.5-500 mg.L-1) were monitored by the L929 target cells lytic assay.
RESULTS
Mat pretreatment markedly diminished hepatic injury induced by LPS in combination with D-GalN. Mat inhibited LPS-induced TNF release from mouse PMO in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner.
CONCLUSIONS
Mat protected the D-GalN-treated mice from the development of fatal hepatitis induced by LPS, and inhibited the LPS-induced TNF release from mouse PMO.
