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Background: Chronic alcohol intake increases circulating endotoxin levels causing excessive inflammation that aggravates the liver injury. (E)‐2,3‐dimethoxy‐4′‐methoxychalcone (L6H21), a derivative of chalcone, has been found to inhibit inflammation in cardiac diseases and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the use of L6H21 in alcoholic liver disease to inhibit exotoxin‐associated inflammation has not been explored. In this study, we examined the effects of L6H21 on EtOH + LPS‐induced hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and liver injury and investigated the underlying mechanisms. Methods: C57BL6 mice were treated with 5% EtOH for 10 days, and LPS was given to the mice 6 hours before sacrificing. One group of mice was supplemented with L6H21 with EtOH and LPS. RAW264.7 cells were used to analyze the effects of L6H21 on macrophage activation. Results: EtOH + LPS treatment significantly increased hepatic steatosis and serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), which were reduced by L6H21 treatment. EtOH + LPS treatment increased hepatic inflammation, as shown by the increased hepatic protein levels of Toll‐like receptor‐4, p65, and p‐IκB, and increased oxidative stress, as shown by protein carbonyl levels and reactive oxygen species formation, which were reduced by L6H21 treatment. In addition, L6H21 treatment markedly inhibited EtOH + LPS‐elevated hepatic protein levels of NLRP3, cleaved caspase‐1, cleaved IL‐1β, and caspase‐1‐associated apoptosis. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that L6H21 treatment inhibits EtOH + LPS‐induced liver steatosis and injury through suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. L6H21 may be used as an alternative strategy for ALD prevention/treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We established both an acute and chronic cardiac toxicity rat model, which showed pretreatment with rutin attenuated pirarubicin-induced myocardial histopathological injury, electrocardiogram abnormalities, and cardiac dysfunction. Rutin also significantly reduced serum levels of MDA, BNP, CK-MB, CTnT, and LDH and increased serum SOD levels. Treatment with rutin and dexrazoxane resulted in an increase in Bcl-2/Bax ratio (p < 0.05) and reduction in JNK and Caspase-3 protein levels, compared to the pirarubicin group (all p < 0.05). Furthermore, rutin at a dose of 50 mg/kg significantly attenuated the above-mentioned alterations. Our study suggests the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties of rutin may be responsible for the cardioprotective effects observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]