The effects of glycyrrhizin on acute pancreatitis in mice.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of glycyrrhizin on acute pancreatitis in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into four groups as control group, model group, low dose group and high dose group (n=15). Acute pancreatitis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of Caerulein (100 µg/kg) hourly for 6 times. Mice in low dose group and high dose group received intraperitoneal administration of 15 mg/kg and 45 mg/kg glycyrrhizin respectively 4 hours before Caerulein injection. Mice in four groups were sacrificed in three equal lots at 8, 16 and 24 hours after model construction. High Mobility Group Box-1 (HMGB1) expression and serum levels of amylase, TNF-α and IL-6 were determined. The pancreatic tissues were taken for histopathologic analysis. RESULTS: Amylase, TNF-α, IL-6 and HMGB1 levels were significantly higher and pancreas lesion was severer in model group than in control group. However, Amylase, TNF-α, IL-6 and HMGB1 levels in low dose group and high dose group decreased significantly compared with model group. The pancreas lesion was also improved after administration of glycyrrhizin. CONCLUSIONS: Glycyrrhizin could decrease the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and downregulate the expression of HMGB1 which finally improved the pancreas lesion in mice with acute pancreatitis.