Effect of ginseng extract on the TGF-β1 signaling pathway in CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis in rats
Liver 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. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: c...
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Published in | BMC complementary and alternative medicine Vol. 17; no. 1; p. 45 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
13.01.2017
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Liver 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.
Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group, ginseng group, CCl
group and CCl
+ ginseng group. Liver injury was induced by the intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of 3 ml/kg CCl
(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.
Treatment with ginseng extract decreased hepatic fat deposition and lowered hepatic reticular fiber accumulation compared with the CCl
group. The CCl
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, CCl
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 CCl
.
ginseng extract had an anti-fibrosis effect via the regulation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway in the CCl
-induced liver fibrosis model. The major target was the inhibition of the expression of TGF-β1, Smad2, and Smad3. |
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ISSN: | 1472-6882 |