Shikonin ameliorates cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in mice

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevanceShikonin, 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 methodsAP was induced in mice by six intraperitoneal injection of cerulein (50μg/kg) at hourly intervals. Vehicle or shikonin (50mg/kg) was pretreated 2h before the first cerulein injection. After 6h, 9h and 12h 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. ResultsShikonin administration significantly reduced serum amylase and lipase activities, pancreatic histological scores, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 levels, MPO activity and NF-κB activity. ConclusionTaken 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.