Green tea extracts protected against carbon tetrachloride-induced chronic liver damage and cirrhosis / 中华预防医学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Using the carbon tetrachloride liver cirrhosis rat model, the protective effect of the green tea extractive (GTE) on the liver cirrhosis was studied.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group, GTE group and cirrhosis group. The GTE group and the cirrhosis group were injected subcutanuously 2 times/wk over 9 weeks with 40% CCl(4). In the second and the ninth week, the rats were sacrificed to measure MDA and hydroxyproline concentrations and TGF-beta(1) mRNA expression in liver tissue, as well as to conduct histological examination on various organs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the cirrhosis group, the MDA and the hydroxyproline concentrations in the GTE group were significantly reduced (P < 0.05). The liver necrosis and cirrhosis were extenuated in the GTE group by means of histologic examination. The expression of the TGF-beta(1) mRNA was reduced significantly in the GTE group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Dietary supplementation of GTE can protect against CCl(4)-induced liver damage and cirrhosis in rats.</p>