Acteoside inhibits apoptosis in D-Galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide- induced liver injury

We assessed the effect of acteoside, a naturally occurring antioxidative phenylethanoid, on hepatic apoptosis and the subsequent liver failure induced by D-Galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). A co-administration of D-GalN (700 mg/kg) and LPS (35 μg/kg) to mice evoked typical hepatic apoptosis characterized by DNA fragmentation and apoptotic body formation, resulting in fulminant hepatitis and lethality of mice. Pre-administration of acteoside at 10 or 50 mg/kg subcutaneously at 12 and 1 h prior to D-GalN/LPS intoxication significantly inhibited hepatic apoptosis, hepatitis and lethality. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secreted from LPS-stimulated macrophages is an important mediator of apoptosis in this model. Acteoside showed no apparent effect on the marked elevation of serum TNF-α, but it partially prevented in vitro TNF-α (100 ng/ml)-induced cell death in D-GalN (0.5 mM)-sensitized hepatocytes at the concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 μM. These results indicated that D-GalN/LPS-induced hepatic apoptosis can be blocked by an exogenous antioxidant, suggesting the involvement of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) in TNF-α-dependent hepatic apoptosis.