OBJECTIVETo study the effects of Vitex negundo var. heterophylla seeds ethanol extract(VSE) on immunological hepatitis and acute inflammation mice model.

METHODHepatic function in the immunological liver injury model was evaluated by assessing the levels of ALT in plasma, and the content of MDA, ORAC, NO and iNOS mRNA in liver tissues. VSE effect on the acute inflammation caused by croton oil and carrageenan was observed.

RESULTCompared to the model group, 125 and 500 mg x kg(-1) VSE could inhibit the activities of ALT in mice plasma, and enhanced levels of ORAC and decreased levels of MDA and modulated levels of NO in liver tissues. Meanwhile, VSE could ameliorate the ear swelling induced by croton oil and reduced the thickness of mice hind paw induced by carrageenan as well.

CONCLUSIONThe results indicated that VSE exerted potential effects on immunological hepatitis and the mechanisms might be partly related to free radical scavenging activity and inhibit release of iNOS. VSE also showed partial effects on acute inflammation.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Hepatitis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Seeds ; chemistry ; Vitex ; chemistry