Hepatoprotective effect of Saccharomyces Cervisciae Cell Wall Extract against thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Fibrosis represents a common outcome of almost all chronic liver diseases and leads to an impairment of liver function that requires medical intervention. The current study aimed to evaluate the potential anti-fibrotic effect of Saccharomyces cervisciae cell wall extract (SCCWE) against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats (200mg/kg b.w. i.p. twice weekly for 6 weeks) using Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) as a reference anti-fibrotic product. SCCWE at two doses (50 and 100 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated the rise in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamide transferase (GGT) activities, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, increased total protein and albumin. SCCWE significantly reduced glutathione depletion (GSH), Nitric oxide (NOx) and malondialdehyde (MDA), thioredoxin (Trx) contents and elevated nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) content. Its anti-inflammatory effects were confirmed by observing a decrease in nuclear factor-κB (NF- κß), interleukin-1b (IL-1ß) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) content. The anti-fibrotic effects of SCCWE were explored by assessing fibrosis related markers as it significantly reduced transform growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and autotaxin (ATX) contents. Administration of SCCWE significantly decreased matrix metalloproteinase-3 and 9 (MMP-3 and -9). Furthermore, it also decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and caspase-3 as assessed immunohistochemically those results were similar to that of the standard drug UDCA. This study shows that SCCWE protects against TAA-induced liver fibrosis in rats, through attenuating oxidative stress, and inflammation, ameliorating MMPs, combating apoptosis and thereby fibrotic biomarkers in addition to improving histopathological changes.

Hepatoprotective effect of Omega-3 PUFAs against acute paracetamol-induced hepatic injury confirmed by FTIR.

Acute paracetamol over dose-induced hepatotoxicity is considered an important medical hazard especially among women. Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 PUFAs) daily doses are nowadays recommended for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is considered a reliable method in analyzing cellular alterations and is now efficiently used to diagnose several diseases and the efficacy of drugs even in the early stages. The aim of our study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Omega-3 PUFAs against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats confirmed through measuring protein alterations in hepatocytes by FTIR. Rats were pretreated with Omega-3 PUFAs (50 and 100 mg/kg) for 21 days prior to oral ingestion of paracetamol. FTIR results revealed that Omega-3 PUFAs (50 mg/kg) limited the toxic effects of paracetamol by restoring the hepatic amide I to amide II ratio. In addition; biochemical analyses demonstrated that serum ALT, AST, Cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and Il-6 levels as well as hepatic TNF-α, MDA, NOx levels were decreased. Besides; serum HDL-cholesterol level and hepatic GSH level were increased. Histopathological examinations of hepatic sections validated the hepatoprotective potential. The overall effect of this dose was comparable to those of the usual recommended hepatoprotective supplement; silymarin. In conclusion; it would be recommended to use Omega-3 PUFAs in low doses on daily bases as a hepatoprotective agent.

Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system attenuates the development of liver fibrosis and oxidative stress in rats.

1. The present study was designed to investigate the potential antifibrotic and anti-oxidant effects of lisinopril, fosinopril and losartan in an experimental rat model of liver injury using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). 2. First, the potential hepatoprotective dose of each drug was screened against CCl(4)-induced acute hepatotoxicity. Then, we chose the minimum hepatoprotective dose of each drug to further investigate the mechanisms involved in the hepatoprotection using a chronic model of hepatotoxicity induced by CCl(4). 3. Liver function was assessed in addition to histopathological examination. Furthermore, oxidative stress markers (reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxides levels) and markers of fibrosis (hydroxyproline content and liver fibrosis area) were assessed. 4. It was found that treatment of animals with different drugs concomitantly with CCl(4) significantly counteracted the changes in liver function induced by CCl(4) (except fosinopril). In addition, the drugs ameliorated the histopathological changes induced by CCl(4). All drugs significantly counteracted lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion (except fosinopril) compared with the CCl(4)-intoxicated group. Moreover, the drugs studied significantly reduced liver hydroxyproline levels and the area of fibrosis compared with the CCl(4)-intoxicated group. 5. In conclusion, the present study provides evidence for the hepatoprotective effect of lisinopril, fosinopril and losartan. Both lisinopril and losartan was found to have better hepatoprotective potential than fosinopril against CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity. These hepatoprotective effects can be explained on the basis of anti-oxidant and antifibrotic mechanisms, mainly enhancement of GSH and reduction of lipid peroxidation and fibrosis.

Effect of rosiglitazone and nateglinide on serum glucose and lipid profile alone or in combination with the biguanide metformin in diabetic rats.

UNLABELLED: This study was designed to investigate the effect of 1 month treatment with nateglinide, rosiglitazone, metformin and their different combinations on streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats. METHODS: Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of STZ at a dose 55 mg kg(-1). The plasma glucose, total lipid, cholesterol, triglyceride and protein components were measured before and 15 and 30 days after the administration of the antidiabetic agents. RESULTS: After the treatment, a significant reduction was observed in fasting blood glucose levels in all groups. Rosiglitazone or metformin were found to exhibit a hypolipidaemic effect in diabetic rats when administered alone or in combination. In comparison, nateglinide, when used alone, resulted in a significant increase in cholesterol and total lipid levels. This effect was masked when nateglinide was administered concurrently with metformin and hypolipidaemic effect was noticed. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this study suggest that compared with nateglinide, rosiglitazone has a more favorable effect on the lipid profile in STZ-induced diabetes in rats.

Studies on the glycemic and lipidemic effect of monopril and losartan in normal and diabetic rats.

The effects of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor monopril and the angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan on serum glucose, protein levels and some serum lipid components were compared in normal and diabetic rats receiving oral antidiabetic drugs 'repaglinide or gliclazide'. The two antihypertensive agents, when administered concurrently with oral hypoglycemic agents 'repaglinide or gliclazide' in normal and diabetic rats exerted a significant hypoglycemic effect. Serum protein levels were mainly unaffected by the two antihypertensive drugs. Monopril and losartan exhibit a hypolipidemic effect in normal and diabetic rats when administered in combination with oral hypoglycemic agents 'gliclazide or repaglinide'. Monopril or losartan when used alone exerted insignificant effect in high density lipoprotein (HDL) in normal rats, while in combination with gliclazide or repaglinide caused a significant increase in HDL in normal rats. Concomitantly, monopril or losartan, when administered alone or in combination with repaglinide or gliclazide in diabetic rats exerted a significant increase in serum HDL. On the other hand, all the investigated drugs showed a significant decrease in serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) in normal and diabetic rats.