Panaxynol from Saposhnikovia diviaricata exhibits a hepatoprotective effect against lipopolysaccharide + D-Gal N induced acute liver injury by inhibiting Nf-κB/IκB-α and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

We investigated the mechanism of action of panaxynol (PAL) extract from the root of Saposhnikovia diviaricata (Turcz.) Schischk for treating acute liver injury caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and D-galactosamine (D-Gal N) in mice. A mouse model of acute liver failure induced by LPS/D-Gal N was established. Mice were divided randomly into three equal groups: control group, LPS/D-Gal N group and PAL group. After seven days of continuous PAL administration, all animals except controls were injected with 50 μg/kg LPS and 800 mg/kg D-Gal N; blood and liver samples were collected after 8 h. Compared to the LPS/D-Gal N group, the levels of catalase, glutathione and superoxide dismutase were increased in the liver of the PAL group. The inflammatory response index indicated that PAL attenuated LPS/D Gal N-induced liver pathological injury and decreased levels of hepatic malondialdehyde, serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate transaminase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukins 1β and 6. PAL also inhibited LPS/D-Gal N induced nuclear factor-kappa B (Nf-κB), inhibitor kappa B-α (IκB-α) activation, and up-regulated Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. PAL can prevent LPS/D-Gal N induced acute liver injury by activating Nrf2/HO-1 to stimulate antioxidant defense and inhibit the IkB-α/NF-κB signaling pathway.