Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Protective effects of β-eudesmol against septic liver injury via inhibition of NF-κB signaling

Qigang Xu, Junjian Li, Zhe Chen, Yefan Mao, Chonglin Tao

Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang Province 325015, China;

For correspondence:- Chonglin Tao Email: cltao8185@163.com Tel:+8657755579451

Accepted: 13 May 2022 Published: 30 June 2022

Citation: Xu Q, Li J, Chen Z, Mao Y, Tao C. Protective effects of β-eudesmol against septic liver injury via inhibition of NF-κB signaling. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(6):1183-1188 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i6.7

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the role of β-eudesmol in septic liver injury in mice.

Methods: Mice were intraperitoneally injected with 50 or 100 mg/kg β-eudesmol, and then subjected to cecal ligation and puncture for the establishment of a septic model 2 h later. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was used to evaluate histopathological changes in the liver tissues. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were employed to determine liver damage, while inflammation and oxidative stress were evaluated by ELISA.

Results: Liver tissues of septic mice showed infiltration of inflammatory cells, vacuolar degeneration and obscure nucleus. However, treatment with β-eudesmol ameliorated the histopathological changes (p < 0.01). Moreover, β-eudesmol also reduced hepatocyte apoptosis, and decreased the levels of biomarkers for liver damage. The up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 in septic mice were significantly down-regulated by β-eudesmol (p < 0.01), but increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in order to protect the mice against sepsis. In addition, β-eudesmol attenuated the cecal ligation and puncture-induced up-regulation of p-p65 in mice (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: β-Eudesmol exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects in septic mice by inactivating NF-κB signaling, and thus may be useful as a potential agent in the management of sepsis.

Keywords: β-Eudesmol, Inflammation, Oxidative stress, Cecal ligation and puncture, Sepsis, Liver injury, NF-κB