Abstract: To explore the protective effects and its mechanism of Clerodendrum philippinum Schauer var. simplex Mlodenke total flavonoids (CPTF) on acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) in mice.60 mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group,silymarin group (150 mg/kg),CPTF-high,medium and low dose group (200,100,50 mg/kg).The normal group and model group were given equivoluminal distilled water,and other groups were given the corresponding dose of drugs (25 mL/kg) for 10 days.After 2 h of the last administration,the mice of all groups except the normal group were injected intraperitoneally with 0.1% CCl₄ peanut oil solution (10 mL/kg).16 h later,the blood was taken by removing eye balls,and the liver tissue was collected after killing the mice.The serum contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase (AST),total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD),malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured by biochemical method;the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α),interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in liver tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA);janus kinase 2 (JAK2),phosphorylated JAK2 (p-JAK2),signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) in liver tissue were detected by Western blot;the histopathological changes of liver were observed by HE staining.The results showed that CPTF could significantly improve the liver tissue lesion,decrease the levels of AST,ALT and MDA in serum (P< 0.05),enhance the activity of T-SOD and GSH-Px (P < 0.05),inhibit the hepatic levels of TNF-α,IL-1β and IL-6 (P< 0.05),and inhibit the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 (P < 0.05).In summary,CPTF had a protective effect on CCl₄-induced acute liver injury in mice,which could reduce the degree of liver injury,and its mechanism may be related to anti-oxidation,inhibition of inflammation and regulation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Key words: Clerodendrum philippinum Schauer var.simplex Mlodenke, total flavonoids, carbon tetrachloride, acute liver injury, oxidative stress, inflammatory response, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway