Rhein inhibits liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

摘要

AIM: To investigate the effect of rhein on liver fibrosis induced by the exposure of carbon tetrachloride (CCl_4)/ ethanol in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four study groups (n=10 each group): healthy controls, CCl_4/ethanol-injured rats left untreated, and CCl_4/ethanol-injured rats treated with rhein of low-dose (25 mg·kg~(-1)) and high-dose (100 mg·kg~(-1)). Rhein was given once a day since rat received CCl_4/ethanol injury. After administration of rhein for 6 weeks rats were killed. The following parameters were determined: the activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hyalauronic acid (HA) and procollagen type Ⅲ (PC-Ⅲ) concentrations in serum, liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level, the degree of liver fibrosis, and the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in liver tissue. RESULTS: The treatment of rhein markedly reduced the ALT activity, HA and PC-Ⅲ concentrations, and liver MDA level in CCl_4/ethanol-injured rats (P<0.01). It also improved significantly histological changes of fibrosis and decreased the expression of α-SMA and TGF-β1 in liver of these rats (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Rhein has protective effect on liver injury and can inhibit liver fibrosis induced by CCl_4/ethanol in rats. The mechanisms possibly contribute to its action of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, also associated with its effect of inhibiting TGF-β1 and suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells.