Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of total flavonoid C-glycosides from Abrus mollis extracts

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of the total flavonoid C-glycosides isolated from Abrus mollis extracts (AME). In the anti-inflammatory tests, xylene-induced ear edema model in mice and carrageenan-induced paw edema model in rats were applied. The hepatoprotective effects of AME were evaluated with various in vivo models of acute and chronic liver injury, including carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatitis in mice, D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced hepatitis in rats, as well as CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. In the acute inflammation experiment, AME significantly suppressed xylene-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema, respectively. In the acute hepatitis tests, AME significantly attenuated the excessive release of ALT and AST induced by CCl4 and D-GalN. In CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis model, AME alleviated liver injury induced by CCl4 shown by histopathological sections of livers and improved liver function as indicated by decreased liver index, serum ALT, AST, TBIL, and ALP levels and hydroxyproline contents in liver tissues, and increased serum ALB and GLU levels. These results indicated that AME possesses potent anti-inflammatory activity in acute inflammation models and hepatoprotective activity in both acute and chronic liver injury models. In conclusion, AME is a potential anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective agent and a viable candidate for treating inflammation, hepatitis, and hepatic fibrosis.