Effect of ginseng extract on the TGF-β1 signaling pathway in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Khalid A. Al-Hosaini¹  Ali R. Alhoshani¹  Mohamed M. Hafez¹  Mohamed M. Al-Harbi¹  Mohamed M. Sayed-Ahmed¹  Shakir Dekhal Alsharari¹  Salim S. Al Rejaie¹  Othman A. Al-Shabanah¹  Naif O. Al-Harbi¹  Manal F. El-Khadragy²  Sherifa S. Hamed³  Zeinab K. Hassan⁴ 

[1] Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2457, 11451, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;College of science, Zoology and Entomology department, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt;Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;Department of Zoology, College of Science, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt;National Cancer Institute, Virology and Immunology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt;

关键词: Ginseng extract;    Carbon tetrachloride;    Gene expression;    Real time PCR;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12906-016-1507-0

 received in 2016-07-14, accepted in 2016-12-01,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundLiver diseases are major global health problems. Ginseng extract has antioxidant, immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigated the effect of ginseng extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.MethodsMale Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group, ginseng group, CCl4 group and CCl4 + ginseng group. Liver injury was induced by the intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of 3 ml/kg CCl4 (30% in olive oil) weekly for 8 weeks. The control group was I.P injected with olive oil. The expression of genes encoding transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), type I TGF-β receptor (TβR-1), type II TGF-β receptor (TβR-II), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (Smad2), Smad3, Smad4, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), Collagen 1a2 (Col1a2), Collagen 3a1 (Col3a1), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin -10 (IL-10) were measured by real-time PCR.ResultsTreatment with ginseng extract decreased hepatic fat deposition and lowered hepatic reticular fiber accumulation compared with the CCl4 group. The CCl4 group showed a significant increase in hepatotoxicity biomarkers and up-regulation of the expression of genes encoding TGF-β, TβR-I, TβR-II, MMP2, MMP9, Smad-2,-3, -4, and IL-8 compared with the control group. However, CCl4 administration resulted in the significant down-regulation of IL-10 mRNA expression compared with the control group. Interestingly, ginseng extract supplementation completely reversed the biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity and the gene expression alterations induced by CCl4.Conclusionginseng extract had an anti‐fibrosis effect via the regulation of the TGF‐β1/Smad signaling pathway in the CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis model. The major target was the inhibition of the expression of TGF‐β1, Smad2, and Smad3.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2016