Arctigenin protects against liver injury from acute hepatitis by suppressing immune cells in mice

Biomed Pharmacother. 2018 Jun:102:464-471. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.03.060. Epub 2018 Apr 5.

Abstract

As a phenylpropanoid and dibenzylbutyrolactone lignan present in medical plants, such as those used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, including Arctium lappa (Niubang), arctigenin exhibits antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. In this study, we investigated the protective role of arctigenin in Concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute hepatitis in mice. Arctigenin remarkably reduced the congestion and necroinflammation of livers, and improved hepatic function (ALT and AST) in ConA-induced acute hepatitis in vivo. The infiltration of CD4 T, NKT and macrophages into the livers was found to be reduced with arctigenin treatment. Arctigenin suppressed ConA-induced T lymphocyte proliferations that might have resulted from enhanced IL-10 production by macrophages and CD4 T cells. These results suggested that arctigenin could be a powerful drug candidate for acute hepatitis through immune suppression.

Keywords: Arctigenin; Immunological hepatitis; Inflammation; Macrophage.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Concanavalin A
  • Furans / pharmacology*
  • Hepatitis / complications*
  • Hepatitis / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis / immunology*
  • Inflammation / drug therapy
  • Inflammation / pathology
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics
  • Lignans / pharmacology*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Liver / injuries*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / drug effects
  • Natural Killer T-Cells / immunology
  • Protective Agents / pharmacology*
  • RAW 264.7 Cells

Substances

  • Furans
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Lignans
  • Protective Agents
  • Concanavalin A
  • Interleukin-10
  • arctigenin