Abstract
Quercetin, as a member of the flavonoids family, has many beneficial properties. The aim of our study was to evaluate the protective effect of quercetin in ConA-induced hepatitis in mice, and to clarify its mechanism of action. Hepatitis was induced by using ConA (25 mg/kg), and quercetin was administered intragastrically at the dose of 100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg for 5 days before ConA injection. The serum levels of liver enzymes, inflammatory cytokines and other marker proteins were determined at 2 h, 8 h and 24 h after ConA injection. Following ConA injection, serum levels of liver enzymes and inflammatory cytokines were significantly increased. Quercetin ameliorated liver damage and histopathological changes, and suppressed the release of inflammatory cytokines. The expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Beclin-1, LC3, P62 and caspase 9 were markedly affected by quercetin pretreatment. The expression of TRAF6 and p-JNK were decreased in the quercetin groups. Quercetin attenuated apoptosis and autophagy in ConA-induced autoimmune hepatitis by inhibiting TRAF6/JNK pathway.