Baicalin treatment found to have hepatoprotective effects on acetaminophen-induced liver injury

A study published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine assessed the protective effects of baicalin, a major flavonoid of Scutellariae radix, on liver injury in a mouse model. The study was carried out by researchers at Chang Gung University in Taiwan.

• Acetaminophen causes acute liver failure, and baicalin has been reported to have liver-protective properties in traditional medicine.
• For the study, the researchers induced liver injury in mice by administering 300 milligrams per kilogram body weight (mg/kg) of acetaminophen.
• Thirty minutes after acetaminophen administration, they treated the mice with baicalin at concentrations of 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg.
• Acetaminophen administration resulted in significant increases in alanine transferase (ALT) enzyme levels and hepatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity.
• However, these increases were significantly reduced after baicalin treatment in a dose-dependent manner.
• Baicalin at a dose of 30 mg/kg exhibited the strongest beneficial effects.
• Baicalin treatment at 30 mg/kg reduced elevated hepatic cytokine levels and macrophage recruitment around the area of hepatotoxicity in immunohistochemical staining.
• In addition, it decreased extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression.
• These results suggested that treatment with baicalin can effectively reduce liver injury by down-regulating the ERK signaling pathway and inflammation.

In conclusion, baicalin can be used as a liver-protective agent.

For more studies on natural treatments for liver injury, go to LiverDamage.news.

Journal Reference:

Liao CC, Day YJ, Lee HC, Liou JT, Chou AH, Liu FC. ERK SIGNALING PATHWAY PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN BAICALIN PROTECTION AGAINST ACETAMINOPHEN-INDUCED LIVER INJURY. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 13 January 2017; 45(1): 105-121. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X17500082