Effects of spirulina in prevention of liver fibrosis in rats / 中国新药与临床杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To study the effects of spirulina (Spirin) in the prevention of liver fibrosis in rats.　METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into three groups control group(n=8); CCl4 group(n=8), spirulina group(n=8). CCl4 group and spirulina group rats were induced by 40% CCl4 olive oil solution into models of liver fibrosis, meanwhile spirulina group was given the feed with spirulina powder for 12 wk. Liver histological changes, hydroxyproline(HYP) content in liver tissues, serum procollagen type Ⅲ(PC-Ⅲ) and hyaluronic acid(HA) levels were observed. 　RESULTS: The pathological studies showed that the liver fibrosis degree of spirulina group was obviously lighter than that of CCl4 group. Spirulina group had significantly lower levels of HYP(174 μg*g-1±37 μg*g-1), PC-Ⅲ(140 μg*L-1±37 μg*L-1) and HA(262 μg*L-1±92 μg*L-1) than those of CCl4 group (243 μg*g-1±49 μg*g-1, 274 μg*L-1±69 μg*L-1 and 484 μg*L-1±114 μg*L-1, respectively).　CONCLUSION: The experimental evidence suggests that spirulina can prevent the formation of liver fibrosis.