Inhibitory effect of olive oil on fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rat liver.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, the inhibitory effect of olive oil on liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) has been investigated in rats.


METHODS
Rats were divided randomly into four groups: control, CCl(4), and two olive oil groups. Except for rats in the control group, all rats were orally administered CCl(4) twice a week for 8 weeks. Rats in the olive oil groups were treated daily with olive oil (2 or 10 ml/kg) through gastrogavage for the entire experimental period.


RESULTS
RT-PCR analysis showed that CCl(4) increased the hepatic mRNA expressions of lipopolysaccharide binding protein, CD14, Toll-like receptor-4, NADPH oxidase, nuclear factor-kappa beta, collagen (alpha1) (I), collagen (alpha1) (III), and transforming growth factor beta1. The expression of these mRNAs could be decreased by olive oil treatment. In addition, Western blot analysis also supported these results. CCl(4)-induced liver damage, as characterized by the increase in hepatic malondialdehyde and hydroxyproline levels. Olive oil treatment decreased the hepatic malondialdehyde and hydroxyproline levels. Histological evaluations showed that olive oil could attenuate the liver fibrosis, necrosis, and expression of smooth muscle alpha-actin that are induced by CCl(4).


CONCLUSIONS
It is speculated that the phenolic compounds in olive oil significantly reduced CCl(4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.
Fang
Hsun-Lang
HL
Graduate Institute of Chinese Pharmaceutical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Lai
Jinn-Tsyy
JT
Lin
Wen-Chuan
WC
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000069463:Olive Oil; D010938:Plant Oils; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003094:Collagen; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D006909:Hydroxyproline