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  • Title: Shikonin ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice.
    Author: Xiong J, Ni J, Hu G, Shen J, Zhao Y, Yang L, Shen J, Yin G, Chen C, Yu G, Hu Y, Xing M, Wan R, Wang X.
    Journal: J Ethnopharmacol; 2013 Jan 30; 145(2):573-80. PubMed ID: 23201088.
    Abstract:
    ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shikonin, a highly liposoluble naphthoquinone pigment isolated from the traditional medical herbs Lithospermum erythrorhizon (LE), was considered to exhibit an anti-inflammatory property. While the potential of shikonin to ameliorate acute pancreatitis (AP) is unknown. Our aim was to investigate the effects of shikonin in a murine model of cerulein-induced pancreatitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: AP was induced in mice by six intraperitoneal injection of cerulein (50 μg/kg) at hourly intervals. Vehicle or shikonin (50 mg/kg) was pretreated 2 h before the first cerulein injection. After 6 h, 9 h and 12 h of the first cerulein injection, the severity of acute pancreatitis was assessed by biochemistry, myeloperoxidase activity, histological grading, proinflammatory cytokines levels and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity. RESULTS: Shikonin administration significantly reduced serum amylase and lipase activities, pancreatic histological scores, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 levels, MPO activity and NF-κB activity. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these results suggest that shikonin might protect against experimental pancreatitis by reducing release of inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-κB activity. The therapeutic role of shikonin in AP needs further investigation.
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