The structural analysis of melanin and its hepatoprotective effect from Lachnum sp.

ABSTRACT In the present study, an intracellular melanin (LIM) of Lachnum YM30 was obtained by submerged fermentation, extraction and purification. The possible structural formula of LIM was concluded, based on UV, FTIR, elemental assay, NMR and MS spectrometry, which showed the typical features of fungal eumelanin. The hepatoprotective effect of LIM was evaluated in an acute LPS/D-GalN induced liver injury mice model which was proved by the increase of inflammatory factors, enhancing the content of anti-inflammatory factors IL-4 and IL-10 to reduce liver damage shows that LIM can protect liver against LPS/D-GalN toxicity via reducing inflammatory stress. The mechanisms underlying this protective effect may be related to inhibition of NF-κB activation. And compared with the single positive drug treatment or the melanin treatment groups, the results showed that the combined treatment group could further reduce the inflammatory reaction of the model mice.