Costunolide protects lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury in mice by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway.
Costunolide, a well-known sesquiterpene lactone, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects. In this study, we aim to investigate the protective effects and mechanism of costunolide on lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine (LPS/D-Gal)-induced acute liver injury. Acute liver injury animal model was induced by intraperitoneal injection with D-Gal and LPS. Costunolide (10, 20, and 30 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 1 h before or after LPS/D-Gal treatment. The results showed that costunolide significantly attenuated liver pathologic changes, as well as alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels in serum. Meanwhile, costunolide inhibited the expressions of interleukin (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in liver tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, costunolide dose dependently inhibited LPS/D-Gal-induced NF-κB activation. In conclusion, this study suggested that costunolide could attenuate LPS/D-Gal-induced liver injury and might be a potential therapeutic reagent for liver injury.