title: The proanthocyanidins inhibit dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver damage in rats.
abstract: Proanthocyanidins are naturally occurring compounds widely available in fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds. They are a class of phenolic compounds and have been reported to exhibit a wide range of biological effects. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of grape seed proanthocyanidins on hepatic injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats. Treatment with DMN caused a significant increase in levels of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin. Oral administration of proanthocyanidins (20 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks) remarkably prevented these elevations. Proanthocyanidins also restored serum albumin and total protein levels, and reduced the hepatic level of malondialdehyde. Furthermore, DMN-induced collagen accumulation, as estimated by histological analysis of liver tissue stained with Sirius red, was reduced in the proanthocyanidins-treated rats. A reduction in hepatic stellate cell activation, as assessed by alpha-smooth muscle actin staining, was associated with proanthocyanidins treatment. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that proanthocyanidins exhibited in vivo hepatoprotective and anti-fibrogenic effects against DMN-induced liver injury. It suggests that grape seed proanthocyanidins may be useful in preventing the development of hepatic fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan 609-735, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Ok
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jeon-Ok
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Moon
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D044945:Proanthocyanidins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D027843:Vitis / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000975:Antioxidants; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D044945:Proanthocyanidins; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat