Protective effect of artemisinin on chronic alcohol induced-liver damage in mice

The liver disease related to chronic alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of death for alcoholics. The efficient drug to ameliorate the alcoholic liver injury was needed urgently. The present study was performed to investigate whether artemisinin possessed the protective effect against chronic alcohol consumption. 50 male Kunming mice were divided into 5 groups: control group (C): 10 ml/kg saline + 10 ml/kg saline, alcohol group (A): 10 ml/kg 56%(v/v) alcohol + 10 ml/kg saline, low dose group of artemisinin (L): 10 ml/kg 56%(v/v) alcohol + 30 mg/kg/day artemisinin, medium dose group of artemisinin (M): 10 ml/kg 56%(v/v) alcohol + 60 mg/kg/day artemisinin, high dose group of artemisinin (H): 10 ml/kg 56%(v/v) alcohol + 120 mg/kg/day artemisinin. Drugs were given orally every day. The general state of mice was observed and the levels of serum activities of AST and ALT were detected after treatment with drugs for 30 days. Besides, the liver weight index was calculated and histopathological analysis was performed. We successfully demonstrated that treatment with high dose of artemisinin significantly decreased the elevated levels of AST (p < 0.05) and ALT (p < 0.01) in plasma, as well as the liver weight index (p < 0.01). The loss of body weight, tissue injury, oedema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the hepatocytes were found in the A group. These symptoms were remarkably alleviated in animals treated with artemisinin. Artemisinin can inhibit the activation of NF-кB and the expression of inflammatory cytokines inducible nitric oxide synthase. Besides, it can also enhance the stability of liver cell membrane, and reduce the damage of liver cell membrane and liver cell. Artemisinin showed a protective effect against chronic alcohol poisoning and it has a great potential for the clinical application to treat the liver injury induced by alcohol.