Baicalein Preconditioning Modulates Hepatocellular Injury following Liver Ischemia and Reperfusion in Rats via Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Signaling

Background: Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is a frequent and major complication during liver transplantation. Baicalein, a plant flavonoid, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. However, whether these effects mediate its protective effects in liver I/R injury remains poorly understood. Objective: This study was designed to investigate the effects of baicalein preconditioning on liver I/R in rats and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Baicalein (300 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected 30 min before 45 min of ischemia followed by 1 h of reperfusion. Results: Baicalein preconditioning attenuated liver I/R injury, as indicated by a reduction in serum aminotransferase activities and an improvement of histopathological abnormalities. Baicalein also significantly reduced the activity of the cellular hepatic proapoptotic enzyme caspase-3 in response to I/R injury. Moreover, baicalein significantly reduced nuclear factor kappa-B expression and the subsequent proinflammatory cytokine production, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level, increased interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, reduced the TNF-α/IL-10 ratio, and suppressed leukocyte infiltration. It increased hepatic antioxidants and reduced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: Taken together, bai­calein preconditioning would seem to protect against liver I/R injury via antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and anti-inflam­matory effects.