Published online Aug 21, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i31.5722
Peer-review started: February 14, 2017
First decision: April 7, 2017
Revised: May 14, 2017
Accepted: June 9, 2017
Article in press: June 12, 2017
Published online: August 21, 2017
Processing time: 186 Days and 14.3 Hours
To investigate the protective effects of Foeniculum vulgare root bark (FVRB), a traditional Uyghur medicine, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice.
Mice were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 20 each). Except for the normal control group, mice in the rest groups were intraperitoneally injected (i.p.) with 0.1% CCl4-olive oil mixture at 10 mL/kg twice a week to induce liver fibrosis. After 4 wk, mice were treated concurrently with the 70% ethanol extract of FVRB (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively) daily by oral gavage for 4 wk to evaluate its protective effects. Serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG), hexadecenoic acid (HA), laminin (LN), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (H and E) staining and Masson trichrome (MT) staining were performed to assess histopathological changes in the liver. The expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloprotein 9 (MMP-9) and metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) was detected by immunohistochemical analysis. Additionally, TGF-β1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression was measured by Western blot.
A significant reduction in serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, HA and LN was observed in the FVRB-treated groups, suggesting that FVRB displayed hepatoprotective effects. Also, the depletion of GSH, SOD, and MDA accumulation in liver tissues was suppressed by FVRB. The expression of TGF-β1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 determined by immunohistochemistry was markedly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by FVRB treatment. Furthermore, protective effects of FVRB against CCl4-induced liver injury were confirmed by histopathological studies. Protein expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA detected by Western blot was decreased by FVRB treatment.
Our results indicate that FVRB may be a promising agent against hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanisms are inhibiting lipid peroxidation and reducing collagen formation in liver tissue of liver fibrosis mice.
Core tip: Hepatic fibrosis is a wound-healing pathological process resulting from chronic hepatic injuries. In the present study, hepatoprotective effects of Foeniculum vulgare root bark (FVRB), a traditional Uyghur medicine, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice were investigated. FVRB reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, hexadecenoic acid and laminin. Furthermore, FVRB inhibited CCl4-induced TGF-β1, MMP-9, TIMP-1 expression and histopathological changes. Our study indicated that the protective effects of FVRB are through inhibiting lipid peroxidation and collagen formation in liver tissue of liver fibrosis mice.