Isorhamnetin: A hepatoprotective flavonoid inhibits apoptosis and autophagy via P38/PPAR-α pathway in mice

Isorhamnetin, a flavonoid compound extracted from plants’ fruit or leaves, like sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), has many biological functions, including anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The present study is in order to explore the hepatoprotective effect of isorhamnetin on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced acute fulminant hepatitis and the underlying mechanism. Mice were injected with ConA (25 mg/kg) to induce acute fulminant hepatitis, three doses of isorhamnetin (10/30/90 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administrated about 1 h previously. The serum and liver tissues were harvested at 2, 8, and 24 h after ConA injection. The levels of serum liver enzymes and proinflammatory cytokines were significantly reduced in isorhamnetin administration groups. Besides, isorhamnetin improved pathological damage. Furthermore, isorhamnetin affected P38/PPAR-α pathway, and subsequently regulated the expression of apoptosis and autophagy related proteins. The present study investigated that isorhamnetin inhibits apoptosis and autophagy via P38/PPAR-α pathway in mice.