Protective effects of seed melon extract on CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Yuan-Yuan Zhan^a ; Jin-Hui Wang^a ; ^b ; Xing Tian^a ; Shi-Xiu Feng^c ; Lin Xue^d ; Li-Ping Tian^a ; ^{13999333713@163.com" class="auth_mail" title="E-mail the corresponding author}
• 关键词：SME ; the seed melon extract ; CCl4 ; carbon tetrachloride ; ALT ; alanine aminotransferase ; AST ; aspartate aminotransferase ; TG ; triglycerides ; HA ; hyaluronic acid ; LN ; laminin ; SOD ; superoxide dismutase ; GSH ; glutataion ; GSH-PX ; glutathione peroxidase ; HY.P ; hydroxyproline ; MDA ; malondialdehyde ; ECM ; extracelluar matrix ; SMEL-I ; low dose (100  ; mg/kg) group I of the seed melon extract ; SMEL-II ; low dose (200  ; mg/kg) group II of the seed melon extract ; SMEM ; middle dose (400  ; mg/kg) group
• 刊名：Journal of Ethnopharmacology
• 出版年：2016
• 出版时间：4 December 2016
• 年：2016
• 卷：193
• 期：Complete
• 页码：531-537
• 全文大小：759 K

文摘

Citrullus lanatus ssp. vulgaris var. megalaspermus Lin et Chao, was also known as watermelon belongs to family Cucurbitaceae, variously used as healthy food and in the treatment of liver and lungs problems. Currently, Citrullus lanatus has become a major economic crop of medicinal and edible effects with regional characteristics.

Aim

This study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of the seed melon (Citrullus lanatus ssp. vulgaris var. megalaspermus Lin et Chao) extract (SME) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced hepatic fibrosis in mice.

Materials and methods

In this study, mice were randomly divided into 7 groups, including normal control, model, silymarin tablets as the positive control, SME 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg. After 8 weeks, activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), hyaluronic acid (HA) and laminin (LN) were checked. The levels of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutataion (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined after SME administration. The hydroxyproline (HYP) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and histopathologic examinations of hepatocyte fibrosis were also determined. Additionally, effects of SME on alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor beta-1(TGF-β1) protein expressions were determined.

Results

We found that SME could significantly lower the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers AST, ALT, HA and LN (P<0.01). Compared with the CCl₄-only treatment group, levels of hepatic SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased, and the MDA levels were remarkably decreased in mice treated by SME at medium dose (400 mg/kg) and high dose (800 mg/kg) (P<0.01). A histological examination of the liver showed that lesions, including necrosis, lymphocyte infiltration and fatty degeneration, were partially healed by treatment with SME. The results of protein expressions studies displayed that SME could inhibit α-SMA and TGF-β1 protein expression (P<0.01).

Conclusion

The present results suggested that protective effect of SME against CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis may rely on its effect on reducing oxidative stress and improving drug metabolizing enzyme activity in liver.