Protective Effect of Scopoletin Against Cerulein-Induced Acute Pancreatitis and Associated Lung Injury in Mice

Objective The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of scopoletin (SC) on cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis (AP) and associated lung injury in mice. Methods Acute pancreatitis was induced in male Swiss mice by 6 consecutive hourly intraperitoneal injections of cerulein (50 g/kg). Scopoletin was administered 1 hour (intraperitoneal, 10 mg/kg) after the first cerulein injection. Results Administration of SC attenuated the severity of AP and associated lung injury as shown by histology, reduced myeloperoxidase, and serum amylase activity. Further, the anti-inflammatory effect of SC was associated with a reduction of pancreatic and pulmonary proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor ) and hydrogen sulfide. Moreover, SC inhibited cerulein-induced nuclear factor B activation in both pancreas and lung. Also, SC treatment further enhances the beneficial effect by reducing cerulein-induced mast cell activation as shown by reduced monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, interleukin 33, and preprotachykinin A expression (encodes neuropeptide substance P) in the pancreas and lungs. Conclusions The present findings show for the first time that in AP SC may exhibit an anti-inflammatory effect by down-regulating substance P and hydrogen sulfide signaling via nuclear factor B pathway.