Galangin Alleviates Liver Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in a Rat Model by Mediating the PI3K/AKT Pathway.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a pathological process that often occurs during liver and trauma surgery. There are numerous causes of liver I/R injury, but the mechanism is unknown. Galangin (GA) is a flavonoid, a polyphenolic compound widely distributed in medicinal herbs that has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor activity. This study evaluated the protective effect of GA on hepatic I/R injury.

METHODS: An I/R model was created in male Wistar rats by clamping the hepatoportal vein, hepatic artery and hepatic duct for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 2 h. A hypoxia/restoration (H/R) model was established in buffalo rat liver (BRL) cells by hypoxia for 4 h followed by normoxic conditions for 10 h. The extent of liver injury was assayed by serum ALT/AST, hepatic histology, and MPO activity. Oxidative stress was assayed by serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Expression of apoptosis-related proteins in BRL cells was assayed in western blots. Expression of AKT and p-AKT proteins in vivo and vitro were assayed in western blots.

RESULTS: GA significantly decreased ALT/AST expression, reversed changes in oxidative stress markers induced by I/R, and mediated caspase-3 activity expression of apoptosis-related proteins in vivo and in vitro. Methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33258 staining confirmed that GA inhibited apoptosis of BRL cells. GA also increased the expression of phosphorylated AKT after H/R.

CONCLUSION: GA reduced liver I/R injury both in vivo and vitro and inhibited BRL cell apoptosis. PI3K/AKT signaling have been involved. GA may protect against liver I/R and be a potential therapeutic candidate.