Naringin prevents carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice

• Nar showed protective effect against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice.
• Nar down-regulated CYP2E1 expression.
• Nar reduced oxidative stress.
• Nar inhibited inflammation and apoptosis.
• Nar regulated MAPK signalling pathway.

The protective effects and mechanisms of action of naringin (Nar) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury in mice were investigated. The results showed that oral administration of Nar significantly decreased the levels of alanine transaminase and alanine transaminase in serum, nitric oxide, inducible nitric oxide synthase and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in hepatic tissue, and markedly increased the levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio compared with the model group. Transmission electron microscopy and histopathology assay also showed the hepatoprotective effect of Nar against the damage. In addition, Nar markedly decreased cytochrome P4502E1 expression, suppressed oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis, and decreased phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases caused by CCl4. These results imply that Nar has perfect effect against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice, which should be developed as an effective food and healthcare product for the treatment of liver injury in the future.