Effect of glycyrrhizin on lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine-induced acute hepatitis in albino rats: a histological and immunohistochemical study

Background: Acute liver diseases constitute a global concern. Medical treatments for these diseases have limited efficacy. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) cause hepatic failure in rodents. Glycyrrhizin (GL) was reported to treat increased serum aminotransferase activity in chronic hepatitis. However, its role in acute hepatitis remains unclear.Aim of the study: To investigate the protective and curative effect of GL in an animal model of acute hepatitis.Materials and methods: Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into five groups: group I=control group, group II=LPS/D-GaIN-induced hepatitis model, group III=treated with GL ½ h before LPS/D-GaIN injection, groups IV=treated ½ h after LPS/D-GaIN, and group V=treated 4 h after LPS/D-GaIN. Serum ALT and AST levels were assayed. Animals were killed by decapitation. Livers were processed for histological and immunohistochemical studies. The results were statistically analyzed.Results: This study revealed hepatocellular degeneration, and many hepatocytes exhibited apoptosis-like features after LPS/D-GaIN administration. Pretreatment with GL significantly improved this microscopic picture, whereas posttreatment with GL also reduced the effects of LPS/D-GaIN, but this reduction decreased with the time of administration. There was a significant increase in caspase-3-immunolabeled hepatocytes and in tumor necrosis factor α-immunolabeled Kupffer cells in group II compared with the control, whereas a significant decrease was observed in groups III and IV, and to a lesser extent in group V compared with group II (all P 0.05). Serum levels of ALT and AST showed a significant increase in group II compared with the control, whereas a significant decrease was observed in groups III and IV, and to a lesser extent in group V (all P 0.05), which was in harmony with the histological results.Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the protective and curative effect of GL against LPS/D-GaIN-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects of GL evidently provide a new insight in treating acute hepatitis