Abstract: Objective To investigate the protective effect of hydroxylsafflor yellow A(HSYA)on the mice with experimental autoimmune hepatitis using concanavalin A Con A-induced liver injury mouse model. Methods A total of 36 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into Sham group, Con A group, HSYA low-dose group(5 mg/kg), HSYA medium-dose group(10 mg/kg), HSYA high-dose group(20 mg/kg)and Sham+HSYA high-dose group(20 mg/kg), with 6 mice in each group. Mice in each group were weighed and the weight was recorded. Then, the mice were pretreated with HSYA through intraperitoneal injection for three days. The experimental autoimmune mouse model was made by tail intravenous injection of Con A 12 hours before we killed the mice. Mice were killed by carbon dioxide inhalation ultimately and we took materials for the next experimental operations. The AST and ALT levels of each group were detected with automatic biochemical analyzer and compared between groups. The liver tissue were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, we observed the pathological changes of liver tissue under a microscope. The level of IL-17, IL-10 and TNF-α in plasma were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Results Compared with the Sham group, Plasma level of TNF-α, IL-17, IL-10 and AST, ALT in mice were significantly increased at 12 hours after Con A treatment(P<0.05),meanwhile a lot of necrotic liver cells could be seen under the microscope. Compared with the Con A group, plasma level of inflammatory factors and transaminase in HSYA(10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg)group were markedly decreased, meanwhile a few of necrotic liver cells could be seen under the microscope. Conclusion Con A could induce liver injury in mice successfully, HSYA has a protective effect on the mice with experimental autoimmune hepatitis.

Key words: hydroxylsafflor yellow A, concanavalin A, interleukin-17, interleukin-10, tumornecrosis factor-α