Jerusalem artichoke attenuates experimental hepatic fibrosis via modulation of apoptotic signaling and fibrogenic activity

Nabil Mohie Abdel-Hamid, Maiiada Hassan Nazmy, Ahmed Wahid and Marwa Abdel-Moniem Eisa

Biotechnology and Biochemistry Research
Published: October 8 2015
Volume 3, Issue 3
Pages 43-50

Abstract

Hepatic fibrosis is a central pathological process in a wide spectrum of liver diseases. This study aims to evaluate possible anti-fibrotic effect of Jeruselem artichoke tubers (JAT) and to investigate possible biochemical and molecular mechanisms for such effect. 60 male albino rats were divided equally (20 rats/group) into the following groups Group I: Untreated control group. Group II: Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) treated group, rats given CCl4-olive oil (1:1, 2.8 ml/kg followed by 1.4 ml/kg after one week) by gavage. Group III: rats received JAT (1 g/kg body weight) orally starting from day one of CCL4 treatment. Biochemical analysis of liver enzymes activities and total bilirubin levels in serum besides histopathological evaluation, immuno-histochemical and western blotting analysis for P53, Bax and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) protein expression in liver tissue were executed. CCL4 treatment showed evident hepatocellular damage and fibrosis, major biochemical and histopathological changes and disrupted expression patterns of P53, Bax and TGF-β proteins in liver tissue. On the other hand, JAT ameliorated most of these changes and restored expression levels of these proteins. In conclusion, JAT treatment showed promising hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced fibrosis via modulation of apoptotic signaling and fibrogenic activity.

Keywords: Liver fibrosis, P53, Bax, TGF-β, Jerusalem artichoke tubers.

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