Abstract

Background: Liver fibrosis is a serious health problem worldwide. Literature sources indicated that liver fibrosis was reversible and an effective treatment would probably reverse the process. However, there was no satisfied agent in the clinical practice to reverse the pathological process yet. Oxidative stress and inflammation are important pathological mechanisms propagating CCl4-induced liver injury.

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of Silybum marianum seeds oil (SMSO) on CCl4-induced oxidative hepatic injury and inflammatory responses.

Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered with 20% CCl4 in corn oil (1 ml/kg, twice a week) in rats, at the same time, SMSO (5-20 mL/kg body weigth/day) was simultaneously administrated orally for six weeks. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH) were measured to assess antioxidant activity of SMSO. The levels of IL-1β and TNF-α were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of SMSO. The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and total bilirubin (TBIL), collagen and hydroxyproline were measured to evaluate the liver protection effect of SMSO.

Results: MDA levels in SMSO groups were significantly lower than that of CCl4 group, while the levels of SOD and GSH were high than that of CCl4 group. SMSO treatment could decrease the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α significantly compared with CCl4 group. SMSO treated rats showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, TBIL, collagen and hydroxyproline levels compared with CCl4 group.

Conclusion: SMSO may be a potential candidate for the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis.

Keywords: Carbon tetrachloride, inflammatory response, liver fibrosis, oxidative stress, Silybum marianum seeds oil, wistar rats.

Graphical Abstract