The Protective Effect of Baicalin on Mouse Liver Function by Inhibiting OTA Induced Inflammatory Response

JIANG Mengxin; KANG Qian; GUO Shuang; LI Xu; JIN Ruyi; LI Lin

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2096-305X.2025.03.003

Abstract：Objective To explore whether baicalin can affect the liver inflammatory response caused by ochratoxin A and inhibit the possibility of ochratoxin A-induced liver injury in mice.Methods A total of 80 6-week-old C57BL/J mice were selected as experimental animals and randomly divided into four groups:control group,OTA group,baicalin group(BA),and baicalin(BA)+OTA group.The models with liver injury induced by OTA were established by gavage in mice.The organ coefficients and content of ALT(alanine aminotransferase,ALT)、and AST(aspartate aminotransferase,AST)in serum were measured;HE staining method and light microscope were used to observe liver tissue structure;enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine inflammatory factor TLR4(toll-like receptor 4,TLR4),TNF-α(tumor necrosis factor-a,TNF-α),IL-1β(interleukin-1β,IL-1β)and IL-6(interleukin-6,IL-6);Western Blot experimental method was used to detect protein NF-κB(nuclear factor kappa-B,NF-κB)expression.Results The results of hepatic index,biochemical parameters and liver histomorphological evaluation demonstrated that compared to the OTA group,the BA+OTA group significantly increased the hepatic index(P<0.05),reduced serum ALT and AST levels(P<0.05),and alleviated hepatocellular damage.ELISA assays revealed that the BA+OTA group markedly suppressed the elevation of pro-inflammatory factors in the NF-κB signaling pathway,including TLR4,TNF-α,IL-1β,and IL-6(P<0.01).Western Blot analysis further indicated that the BA+OTA group significantly increased nuclear NF-κB content(P<0.01)while decreasing cytoplasmic NF-κB levels(P<0.01).Conclusion BA pretreatment can effectively improve OTA induced liver toxicity.