Study of the extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis on lipopolysaccharide-induced glomerulonephritis

• Main Authors: Chu-Ling Yao, 姚竹凌
• Other Authors: 邱慧芬
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2006
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/79273752761856677929

碩士 === 高雄醫學大學 === 醫學研究所碩士班 === 94 === Septic shock is an important clinical issue. The mortality is over 50%. Previous reports proposed that septic shock leads to the infiltration of inflammatory cells in glomeruli and the tubulointerstitium of the kidney. However, are not entirely clear. Studies have also shown that this greatly enhances the severity of glomerular injury in small doses of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced of experimental glomerulonehritis. Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), is widely used in the traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-HIV, anti-tumor, antioxidant, free radical scavenging, anti-platelet aggregation and anti-hypersensitivity effects. Our previous in vitro study demonstrated that baicalen, one of flavonid compounds, isolated from SB could inhibit expression of inducible nitric oxide synthesis (iNOS), cyclooxygenases-2 (COX-2) and cytokine in LPS-induced mouse marcrophage (RAW 264.7 cell line). Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the extracts of SB have beneficial effect in LPS-induced GN and further evaluate the possible mechanisms involved. First, we evaluate the effect on GN induced by intraperitoneally (i.p.) administration of LPS (4.8mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks in C57BL/6J mice. Then, the water extract of SB (150 mg/kg/day, p.o.) was administrated for 2 weeks in LPS-induced glomrerulnephritis mice. Our results showed that SB alleviated glomerular and mesangial cell proliferation of the histological examination in LPS-treated mice. Similarly, SB reduced the serum blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, urine protein, the nitrite/nitrate level in urine and serum, serum prostaglandin E2 level, urine 8-iso-PGF2a (the peroxidation of membrane lipids by free radicals and reactive oxygen species), renal myeloperoxidase (MPO) (neutrophil infiltration marker) activity, and renal iNOS; COX-2 expression in LPS-induced mice. Furthermore, SB also significantly increased Interleukin-10 (IL-10), that is a cytokine with anti-inflammatory. In conclusion, the results indicated that the water extract of SB significantly alleviated renal function and histological examination. The possible mechanisms may be associated with (1) decreased NO/iNOS; PGE2/COX-2 pathway (2) decreased neutrophil infiltration (3) reduced free radicals formation (4) improved anti-inflammatory cytokines formation including IL-10 ?nin LPS-injected mice. Hopefully, the Scutellaria baicalensis may be an effective therapeutic intervention for anti- glomerulonehritis.