An Herbal Formula CG(plus) Ameliorates Stress-Induced Hepatic Injury in a BALB/c Mouse Model

INTRODUCTION: Stress is a well-known factor for inflammation in diverse organs/tissues. Stress also leads to liver injury, which was supported by clinical observations and animal studies. We herein investigated the hepatoprotective property of an herbal formula (called as CG(plus)) consisting of Artemisia gmelinii Weber ex Stechm. (syn, Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura), Wurfbainia villosa var. xanthioides (Wall. ex Baker) Skornick. & A.D.Poulsen (syn, Amomum xanthioides Wallich), and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge against stress-induced hepatic damage. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were orally administered water extract of CG(plus) (0, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg) daily for 5 days, and then subjected to immobilization stress for 6 h on the 5(th) day. RESULTS: Acute immobilization stress elevated remarkably serum concentrations of stress hormones (corticosterone and adrenaline) and two hepatic injury parameters (ALT and AST), while these alterations were significantly attenuated by the administration of CG(plus). The increases of oxidative parameters (ROS, NO, lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl) and deviation of IL-1β and IL-10 in opposite directions in hepatic tissues were significantly normalized by CG(plus). Pre-treatment with CG(plus) also notably ameliorated the abnormal activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), CD14, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LPB) as well as infiltration of neutrophils in hepatic tissues. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that an herbal formula (CG(plus)) derived from traditional pharmaceutical theory has a potent protective effect against stress-induced hepatic injury via regulation of pro- (IL-1β) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines.