Acetaminophen (
APAP) overdose can cause severe liver damage, but therapeutic options are limited.
Apamin is a natural
peptide present in
bee venom and has
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Accumulating evidence suggests that
apamin has favorable actions in rodent models of inflammatory disorders. Here, we examined the effect of
apamin on
APAP-evoked hepatotoxicity. Intraperitoneal administration of
apamin (0.1 mg/kg) alleviated histological abnormalities and reduced serum levels of liver
enzymes in mice injected with
APAP.
Apamin inhibited oxidative stress through an increase in the amount of
glutathione and activation of the
antioxidant system.
Apamin also attenuated apoptosis with inhibition of
caspase-3 activation. Moreover,
apamin reduced serum and hepatic levels of
cytokines in
APAP-injected mice. These effects were accompanied by suppression of NF-κB activation. Furthermore,
apamin inhibited
chemokine expression and inflammatory cell infiltration. Our results suggest that
apamin dampens
APAP-evoked hepatotoxicity through inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and
inflammation.