Protective effect of glycyrrhizin and matrine on acute vanishing bile duct syndrome induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate in rats

Aim: To explore the effects of glycyrrhizin (GL) and matrine (MT) on acute vanishing bile duct syndromes (AVBDS) in rats. Methods: AVBDS in rats were induced by alphanaphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), and the effects of GL and MT on AVBDS were explored and compared with dexamethasone (DEX) by serology determination, histological assessment of liver damage and bile excretion experiments. Results: The protection of DEX pre-treatment was directed toward cholangiocytes rather than hepatocytes. Rats remedially treated with DEX 3 h after ANIT were not resistant to ANIT toxicity. Notably, remedial treatment with DEX 12 h after ANIT enhanced ANIT toxicity. However, GL and MT attenuated both bile duct and hepatocyte damage induced by ANIT in the initial phase of impairment. Conclusion: The nature products (GL and MT) exhibited better protection against ANIT-induced AVBDS than DEX. In the initial phase of impairment of AVBDS, the protection of GL and MT may be due partially to modifying the metabolism and excretion of ANIT and to their anti-inflammatory effects.