Herbal formula CGX ameliorates LPS/D-galactosamine-induced hepatitis

CGX, a traditional herbal drug, has been prescribed for patients suffering from various liver diseases, including hepatitis B, alcoholic liver disease, and fatty liver. We investigated whether CGX has hepatoprotective effects against lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine (LPS/D-GalN)-induced acute liver injury and its underlying mechanism(s). Mice were administered CGX orally for 7 days prior to an injection of LPS (5 μg/kg)/D-GalN (700 mg/kg). Complete blood count, serum diagnostic markers, antioxidant activities, caspase activity, and histopathological examinations were conducted 8 h after the injection. To evaluate the immunological mechanism of CGX, serum TNF-α and IL-10 were investigated 1.5 h after LPS/D-GalN injection. CGX pretreatment (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) inhibited the elevation of serum AST and ALT levels as well as histopathological alterations. Moreover, CGX pretreatment inhibited activation of caspase-3/7. CGX attenuated LPS/D-GalN-induced lipid peroxidation with concomitant improvement in total antioxidant activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase). CGX elevated the antioxidant capacity of the liver in both the pathological and normal conditions. Furthermore, LPS/D-GalN-induced alterations of neutrophil and lymphocyte populations were ameliorated and serum TNF-α was decreased significantly by CGX. From these data we conclude that CGX protects the liver from LPS/D-GalN-induced hepatitis through antioxidant mechanisms as well as immune modulation.