Protection of rats from thioacetamide-induced hepatic fibrosis by the extracts of a traditional Uighur medicine Cichorium glandulosum

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

School of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China

Abstract

Objective(s):To clarify the protective effects of Cichorium glandulosum (CG) extracts on thioacetamide (TAA)-induced rat hepatic fibrosis.
Materials and Methods: The dry roots of CG were smashed and percolated with 95% ethanol, and the residual was prepared into petroleum ether extract (CG-V), ethyl acetate extract (CG-VI) and n-butyl alcohol extract (CG-VII). Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a CG-V group (15 mg/kg), a CG-VI group (3 mg/kg), a CG-VII group (6 mg/kg) and a positive drug group (silibinin capsule, 8 mg/kg). Organ indices and serum levels of glutamic-oxaloacetic and glutamic-pyruvic transaminases of intragastrically administered rats were obtained. Expressions of FN, Smad3, IGFBPrP1 and TGF-β1 genes were detected by Western Blot and immunohistochemical assays. Apoptosis was examined by TUNEL assay.
Results: Hepatic fibrosis of treatment groups was evidently mitigated. Expressions of FN, Smad3 and TGF-β1 in administration groups were higher than those in normal group, and moreover were significantly higher in CG-V and CG-VII groups than those of model group. Apoptotic index of model group was significantly higher than that of normal group, but indices of CG-V and CG-VII groups were significantly lower than that of model group. Significantly more FN, Smad3 and IGFBPrP1 were expressed in treatment groups than those in normal group.
Conclusion: CG extracts may function by altering TGF-β/Smads signal transduction pathway.

Keywords

References

1. Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmaco-poeia of the People's Republic of China. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press; 2011.
2. Pharmacography of Uighur, Part One; 2005.PP:100.
3. Peng XX, Wang TL. Clinical pathology of liver diseases. Beijing: Chemical Industry Press; 2010.pp:7
4. Wu HK, Aisa HA, Rakhmanberdyeva RK, Zhauynbaeva KS, Xin XL. Polysaccharides from Cichorium glandulosum seeds. Chem Nat Comp2008; 44:79-80.
5. Wu HK, Xin XL, Su Z, Aisa HA. 2-Isopropyl-6-methylpyrimidin-4(3H)-one and taraxasterol from the stems of Cichorium glandulosum. Chem Nat Comp 2011; 47:664-666.
6. Houglum K, Bedossa P, Chojkier M. TGF-beta and collagen-alpha 1 (I) gene expression are increased in hepatic acinar zone 1 of rats with iron overload. Am J Physiol 1994; 267:908-913.
7. Friedman SL. Mechanisms of hepatic fibrogenesis. Gastroenterology 2008; 134:1655-1669.
8. Yang WJ, Luo YQ, Aisa HA, Xin XL, Totahon Z, Mao Y, et al. Hepatoprotective activities of a sesquiterpene-rich fraction from the aerial part of Cichorium glandulosum. Chin Med 2012; 7:21.
9. Upur H, Amat N, Blažeković B, Talip A. Protective effect of Cichorium glandulosum root extract on carbon tetrachloride-induced and galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Food Chem Toxicol 2009; 47:2022-2030.
10. Friedman SL. Hepatic stellate cells: protean, multifunctional, and enigmatic cells of the liver. Physiol Rev 2008; 88:125-172.
11. Pietrangelo A, Gualdi R, Casalgrandi G, Montosi G, Ventura E. Molecular and cellular aspects of iron-induced hepatic cirrhosis in rodents. J Clin Invest 2007; 95:1824-1831.
12. Seki E, De Minicis S, Gwak GY, Kluwe J, Inokuchi S, Bursill CA,  et al. CCR1 and CCR5 promote hepatic fibrosis in mice. J Clin Inves 2009; 119:1858-1870.
13. Ye RG, Lu ZY. Editors. Internal medicine. 6th ed. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House; 2006. pp:430-436.
14. Ding M, Potter JJ, Liu XP, Torbenson MS, Mezey E. Selenium supplementation decreases hepatic fibrosisin mice after chronic carbon tetrachloride administration. Biol Trace Elem Res 2010; 133:83-97.
15. Liang TJ, Yuan JH, Tan YR, Ren WH, Han GQ, Zhang J, et al. Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on TGF beta1/Smad signaling pathway in rat hepatic stellate cells. Chin Med J 2009; 122:1209-1213.
16. Houglum K, Bedossa P, Chojkier M. TGF-beta and collagen-alpha 1 (I) gene expression are increased in hepatic acinar zone I of rats with iron overload. Am J Physiol 2010; 267:908-913.
17. Pietrangelo A, Gualdi R, Casalgrandi G, Montosi G, Ventura E. Molecular and cellular aspects of iron. induced hepatic cirrhosis in rodents. J Clin Invest 1995; 95:1824-1831.
18. Liang TJ, Yuan JH, Tan YR, Ren WH, Han GQ, Zhang J, Wang LC, Qin CY. Effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on TGFbetal/Smadsignaling pathway in rat hepatic stellate cells. Chin Med J 2009; 122:1209-1213.
19. Li D, Friedman SL. Liver fibrogenesis and the role of hepatic stellate cells: new insights and prospects for therapy. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 1999; 14:618-633.
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences
Volume 17, Issue 11 - Serial Number 11
November 2014
Pages 879-885

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics