An experimental study of effect of emodin on acute necrotizing pancreatitis

Objective To investigate the effect of emodin on acute necrotizing pancreatitis(ANP) in rats.Methods A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 4 groups(n=10) including control group,ANP group,prevention group and emodin-treated group.ANP was induced in rats by intraperitoneal infusion of large doses of arginine.Emodin was given twice,each 1 hour interval,90 minutes before the ANP was induced in the prevention group,and 30 minutes after the ANP was induced in emodin-treated group.The rats in each group were sacrificed at 24 hours after the ANP was induced.The serum levels of renin,angiotensinⅡ,amylase(AMY),TNF-αand IL-1βwere measured,the pancreatic wet weight/rat's body weight of all rats were determined and the pathologic changes of pancreas were analyzed by histopathologic grading and scoring of the severity of pancreas.Results Compared with the control group,there were significant increase in the levels of renin,angiotensinⅡ,amylase,TNF-α,IL-1βand the ratio of pancreatic wet weight/rat's body weight in the ANP group;Extensive necrosis,diffuse edema and a large number of inflammatory cell infiltration occurred in pancreatic tissue of the ANP group,and lobular structure of the pancreas were severely damaged.Compared with the ANP group,the serum levels of amylase,TNF-α,IL-1βand the ratio of pancreatic wet weight/rat's body weight decreased significantly in the prevention group and emodin-treated group;Pathological lesions alleviated significantly;However,no obvious changes of the serum levels of renin and angiotensinⅡ were found.Conclusion It is suggested that Emodin can decrease significantly the levels of serum AMY,TNF-αand IL-1βin ANP rats,and alleviate the pancreatic pathological damaged conditions,but has no significant effect on the serum levels of renin and angiotensinⅡ.Thus,emodin has an excellent control effcet on the damaged conditions of the ANP.