ABSTRACT
Aim To investigate the effects of 2-dode-cyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2 , 5-diene-l, 4-dione ( DM-DD) on resisting hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride ( CC14 ) in rats and the underlying mechanisms , with a specific focus on the TGF-pi/Smads signaling pathway. Methods The hepatic fibrosis model was replicated using 50% CC14. Various parameters, including levels of aspartate transferase ( AST) , ala-nine transferase ( ALT ) , albumin/globulin ( A/G ) , total protein (TP) , total bilirubin (T-BIL) , hyaluron-ic acid ( HA ) , laminin ( LN ) , collagen type Ж ( Col Ж) , and collagen type IV(ColIV) in the blood, were measured. Liver tissue lesions and fiber formation were observed using HE and Masson staining. The expression levels of a smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) , collagen type I ( Col I ) , transformed growth factor (TGF-pi), Smad2, and Smad7 proteins were assessed using immunohistochemistry. a-SMA, Coll, TGF-pi, and Smad7 mRNA levels in liver tissue were measured by RT-PCR. Additionally, the expression levels of TGF-pi, Smad4, and Smad7 proteins in liver tissue were determined by Western blot. Results In comparison to the normal control group, the model group exhibited significantly elevated levels of AST, ALT, TP, T-BIL, HA, LN, Col Ш and Col IV in serum. But A/G level notably decreased. Successful modeling was confirmed by the presence of extensive fiber formations observed through HE and Massonstaining in liver tissue. The DMDD administration group demonstrated a notable decrease levels of AST, ALT, TP, T-BIL, HA, LN, Col III, and CollV, but A/G was significantly elevated when compared to the model group. Furthermore, a-SMA, Coll, TGF-f31, Smad2 and Smad4 mRNA and protein levels in the DMDD administration group were significantly reduced, while Smad7 significantly declined. HE and Masson staining results reflected a marked reduction in fibrous hyper-plasia. Conclusion DMDD exhibits a protective effect against CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, and its mechanism appears to be associated with the TGF-fJl/ Smads signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
There are a number of medicinal combinations in the Iranian traditional medicine which are commonly used as tonic for liver. In this review, we have introduced some medicinal plants that are used mainly for the treatment of liver disorders in Iranian folk medicine, with focus on their hepatoprotective effects particularly against CC14 agent. In this study, online databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct were searched for papers published from January 1970 to December 2013. Search terms consisted of medicinal plants, traditional medicine, folk medicine, hepatoprotective, Iran, liver, therapeutic uses, compounds, antioxidant, CC14, anti-inflammatory, and antihepatotoxic, hepatitis, alone or in combination. Allium hirtifolium Boiss., Apium graveolens L., Cynara scolymus, Berberis vulgaris L., Calendula officinalis, Nigella sativa L., Taraxacum officinale, Tragopogon porrifolius, Prangos ferulacea L., Allium sativum, Marrubium vulgare, Ammi majus L., Citrullus lanatus Thunb, Agrimonia eupatoria L. and Prunus armeniaca L. are some of the medicinal plants that have been used for the treatment of liver disorders in Iranian folk medicine. Out of several leads obtained from plants containing potential hepatoprotective agents, silymarin, β-sitosterol, betalain, neoandrographolide, phyllanthin, andrographolide, curcumin, picroside, hypophyllanthin, kutkoside, and glycyrrhizin have been demonstrated to have potent hepatoprotective properties. Despite encouraging data on possibility of new discoveries in the near future, the evidence on treating viral hepatitis or other chronic liver diseases by herbal medications is not adequate.
ABSTRACT
The protective effect of TGPs on acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ( CCl4 ) was investigated in mice . TGPs ( 40 or 80mg/kg?d ? 3d, ip ) reduced the elevation of plasma or serume gl- utamic pyruvic transaminase ( GPT ) and plasma lactate dehydroge-nase ( LDH ) in CCl4-intoxicated mice, but if had no significant influence on the elevation of plasma glutamic oxalacetic transaminase ( GOT).TGPs (40mg/kg?d ? 3d, ip ) showed a protective effect on the histopathologic changes of liver injury induced by CCl4. The results suggest that TGPs may a protect against hepatic damage.
ABSTRACT
Studies were made on the effect of protoporphyrin in treating the acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride ( CCl4 ) in rabbits and on the liver blood flow, biosynthesis of DNA and protein in liver of mice. The results showed that the protoporphy-rin was able to protect the liver remarkable as evidenced by his-tological studies. And it could inhibit the elevation of serum glut-amic-pyruvic transaminase ( SGPT ) , serum glutamic - oxaloacetic transaminase ( SGOT ) and serum ?-glutamyl- transpeptidase ( S?- GT)also. Protoporphyrin could regulate the metabolism of serum amino -acids in rabbits intoxicated by CCl4 as well. Furthermore,protoporphyrin can improve biosynthesis of DNA and liver protein and it may increase the blood flow in the liver of the mice.
ABSTRACT
A study was made; of the effect of malotilate on the acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachlorid,e ( CC14 ) and d-galactosamine in mice. Malotilate ( 50~150mg/kg ig?3 ) significantly inhibited the elevation of serum glu tamic pyruvic transaminase ( SGPT ) in CC14- intoxicated mice.At the dose of 100mg/kg ig?3, malotilate remarkably increased the content of hepatic glycogea in CCl4-injected mice. The contents of serum protein, liver protein, and cytochrom P-450 in liver hemogenate were increased by malotilate ( 100mg/kg ig?3) in CC14-intoxicated mice. The drug also reduced the accumulation of liver triglycerides induced by CCl4 in mice.In addition to, malotilate(50mg /kg, ip?5) could act against the increase of SGPT and the decrease of liver protein content induced with d-galactosamine in mice. These results suggest that malotilate may be a new therapeutic agent for liver injury.
ABSTRACT
During the period of the subcutaneous injection of CCl_4 0.5ml/kg, four times at intervals of 5 days, the C57 mice were fed with 6.8％ bee pollen of Codonopsis Pilosula Nannf (BPCPN). The results showed that BPCPN coule alleviate effctively the hepatic injury induced by CCl_4, and prevent the decrease of serum albumin and liver protein and glycogen after the liver was injured. The electron microscopis and pathologcal examination also showed that the mice had only slight hepatic necrosis, fat degeneration and fibrosis, but had a com plete repair as compared with the control groups. The above results indicated that BPCPN possessed preventive and curative on the impairment of CCl_4and could protect the hepatic metabolic function from the injury of CCl_4.