Effects of tea polyphenols on hepatic fibrosis in rats with alcoholic liver disease.
BACKGROUND
As an anti-oxidation agent, tea polyphenols may have the effect of anti-fibrosis. This study was designed to observe the effect of tea polyphenols on hepatic fibrosis in rats with alcoholic liver disease and to explore the related mechanisms.


METHODS
Sixty healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into normal control group, single alcohol group, and three alcohol groups given different doses of tea polyphenols. Alcohol or isovolumic normal saline and corresponding doses of tea polyphenols were given daily to the rats separately. The rats were sacrificed at the end of the 24th week. Masson staining was performed to observe liver fibrosis, serum endotoxin, and oxidant and anti-oxidant activity.


RESULTS
Hepatic fibrosis was less severe in the rats of the alcohol groups given tea polyphenols than in the single alcohol group. Tea polyphenols increased the serum anti-oxidant capacity and decreased the endotoxin level.


CONCLUSIONS
Tea polyphenols show anti-fibrosis effect in rats with alcoholic liver disease, and the mechanism may be related to the clearance of overall oxidant and decrease of the endotoxin level.
Li
You-Ming
YM
Digestive Department, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China. liyouming@dna.net.cn
Zhang
Xing-Guo
XG
Zhou
Hua-Li
HL
Chen
Shao-Hua
SH
Zhang
Yu
Y
Yu
Chao-Hui
CH
D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry*
D004731:Endotoxins; D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D013662:Tea; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione