Bioactive phytochemicals of leaf essential oils of Cinnamomum osmophloeum prevent lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN)-induced acute hepatitis in mice

J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Aug 10;59(15):8117-23. doi: 10.1021/jf2018935. Epub 2011 Jul 6.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the bioactive phytochemicals of leaf essential oils of Cinnamomum osmophloeum on lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN)-induced acute hepatitis. The results revealed that post-treatment with 100 μmol/kg trans-cinnamaldehyde, (-)-aromadendrene, T-cadinol, or α-cadinol significantly decreased the aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels in serum. Moreover, both T-cadinol and α-cadinol treatments decreased the expressions of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) in the liver tissues when compared with the LPS/D-GalN group. Liver histopathology also showed that silymarin, trans-cinnamaldehyde, (-)-aromadendrene, T-cadinol, or α-cadinol significantly reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by LPS/D-GalN. These results suggest that the above phytochemicals exhibit potent hepatoprotection against LPS/D-GalN-induced liver damage in mice, and their hepatoprotective effects may be due to the modulation of anti-inflammatory activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease / therapy
  • Animals
  • Cinnamomum / chemistry*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Galactosamine / adverse effects*
  • Hepatitis / drug therapy
  • Hepatitis / etiology
  • Hepatitis / prevention & control*
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Oils, Volatile / administration & dosage*
  • Plant Leaves / chemistry
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage*

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Oils, Volatile
  • Plant Oils
  • Galactosamine