Mediators of Inflammation (Jan 2016)

Protective Effects of Dracocephalum heterophyllum in ConA-Induced Acute Hepatitis

  • Wei Zheng,
  • Qilan Wang,
  • Xiaohua Lu,
  • Qiangqiang Shi,
  • Junhui Zou,
  • Yanduo Tao,
  • Pu Wang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/2684321
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2016

Abstract

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Dracocephalum heterophyllum (DH) is a Chinese herbal medicine used in treating hepatitis. However, the protective effects and pharmacological mechanisms of DH in hepatitis are unknown. In this study, we found that pretreatment with DH extract significantly ameliorated liver injury and suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in Concanavalin A- (ConA-) induced hepatitis (CIH). DH recruited more CD11b+ Gr1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) to the liver and suppressed infiltration of macrophages (Kupffer cells) in the liver. The present work explores DH as an effective hepatoprotective medicine to inhibit inflammation and liver injury caused by hepatitis.