title: The protective effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
abstract: Dried flower Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HSE) extracts, a local soft drink material and medicinal herb, were studied for their protective effects against liver fibrosis induced using carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) in rats. Male Wistar rats were administered CCl(4) by intraperitoneal injection for 7weeks and received a normal diet or normal diet with various HSE doses (1-5%) for 9weeks. HSE significantly reduced the liver damage including steatosis and fibrosis in a dose dependent manner. Moreover, HSE significantly decreased the elevation in plasma aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). It also restored the decrease in glutathione content and inhibited the formation of lipid peroxidative products during CCl(4) treatment. In the primary culture, HSE also significantly inhibited the activation of the hepatic stellate cells. These results suggested that HSE may protect the liver against CCl(4)-induced fibrosis. This protective effect appears due to HSEs antioxidant properties.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jer-Yuh
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chang-Che
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Hong
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jeng-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Mon-Yuan
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chau-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D031584:Hibiscus / Q000737:chemistry*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012838:Silymarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D012838:Silymarin; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D005978:Glutathione