Anti-inflammatory role of naringenin in rats with ethanol induced liver injury

The aim of the study was to investigate the antiinflammatory effects of naringenin in rats induced liver damage by exposure to ethanol. Rats were divided into four groups, groups 1 and 2 received isocaloric glucose; groups 3 and 4 received 20% ethanol equivalent to 6 g/kg body weight everyday for the total experimental period of 60 days. In addition, groups 2 and 4 were supplemented with naringenin (50 mg/kg p.o.) everyday for the last 30 days of the experiment. The results showed significantly elevated levels/activities/expression of serum aspartate and alanine transaminases, iron, ferritin, transforming growth factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) and CD14 in ethanol fed rats as compared to those of the control. Ethanol-fed rats exhibited increased staining for the presence of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) protein adducts in the liver. Supplementation with naringenin for the last 30 days to ethanol-fed rats, significantly decreased the levels/activities/expression of serum aspartate and alanine transaminases, iron, ferritin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, NF-kappa B, COX-2, MIP-2, CD14 and iNOS protein adducts in the liver as compared to the untreated ethanol fed rats. The inhibition of TNF-alpha, IL-6, NF-kappa B, COX-2, MIP-2, iNOS and CD14 by naringenin may contribute to its antiinflammatory activity in ethanol fed rats.