Gardenia jasminoides protects against cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Figure 1 Effects of GJ pretreatment on the (A) PW/BW, (B) serum amylase activity, and (C) serum-lipase activity in cerulein induced AP. The study groups were treated as indicated in the experimental protocol. The mean ± SE of the six animals are shown. ^aP < 0.05 vs saline treatment; ^bP < 0.05 vs cerulein treatment alone.

Figure 2 Effect of GJ on (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-1β and (C) IL-6 secretion in cerulein-induced AP. Mice were treated as indicated in the experimental protocol. The mean ± SE of six animals are shown. The study groups were treated as indicated in the experimental protocol. ^aP < 0.05 vs saline treatment; ^bP < 0.05 vs cerulein treatment alone.

Figure 3 Effect of GJ on TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1 mRNA levels in cerulein-induced AP. The mice were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 6 h after six injections. Levels of pancreatic mRNA were quantified by real-time PCR for (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-1β, and (C) IL-6. The mean ± SE of six animals are shown. ^aP < 0.05 vs saline treatment; ^bP < 0.05 vs cerulein treatment alone.

Figure 4 Effects of the GJ on pancreatic inflammatory changes following pancreatitis. A: Representative H&E-stained sections of pancreas in control mice (CON) who were not given cerulein, in mice given cerulein (CAE), and in mice given GJ (1 mg/kg) at the same time as the first cerulein injection; B: Histological sections of pancreas harvested 12 h after injection of saline (CON), cerulein alone, or GJ (1 or 0.1 mg/kg) given at the same time as the first injection of cerulein. The results were scored from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe) for edema, inflammation, vacuolization, and necrosis. ^aP < 0.05 vs saline treatment; ^bP < 0.05 vs cerulein treatment alone. The figure shows the results of one experiment in which 4-5 mice were tested per group. The results obtained were similar to those in three additional experiments (× 200).

Figure 5 GJ reduced the severity of AP-associated lung injury. A: Representative H&E-stained sections of the pancreas in control mice (CON) not given cerulein, in mice given cerulein (CAE), and in mice given GJ (1 mg/kg) at the same time as the first cerulein injection; B: Histology sections of the lung harvested 12 h after administration of saline (CON), cerulein alone, or GJ (1 or 0.1 mg/kg) given at the same time as the first injection of cerulein. The results were scored from 0 (normal) to 3 (severe) for edema, inflammation, vacuolization, and necrosis. ^aP < 0.05 vs saline treatment; ^bP < 0.05 vs cerulein treatment alone. The figure shows one experiment in which 4-5 mice were tested per group. The results obtained were similar to those in three additional experiments (× 200).

Figure 6 MPO activity was measured in the pancreas 6 h after completion of the cerulein injections and in saline-injected control mice (CON). The data are expressed as MPO activity (U/mg protein). ^aP < 0.05 vs saline treatment; ^bP < 0.05 vs cerulein treatment alone. The figure shows the results of one experiment in which 5-6 mice were tested per group.