title: Beneficial effects of yam on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In a previous study, lyophilised yam reduced brain amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) accumulation and improved the antioxidative defence system in senescence-accelerated (SAMP8) mice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the hepatic protection of yam in the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis of rats. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats via intraperitoneal injections of CCl(4) at a dose of 1 mL kg(-1) body weight (BW) twice weekly for 8 weeks. Three groups of rats were gavaged daily with yams at doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 g kg(-1) BW for 8 weeks, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Yam treatments significantly decreased the ratio of liver/body weight, levels of gamma-glutaminotranspeptidase (GGT), low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride in serum when compared with those administered CCl(4) alone. Treatment with yams significantly elevated antioxidant activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxidase dismutase (SOD) in livers. Microscopically, yam-treated groups presented with low histoscores of CCl(4)-induced liver injury and fibrosis. Additionally, yam treatment reduced the area of GGT-positive foci and the index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily administration of yam attenuates CCl(4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats in a dose-dependent manner; this attenuation may be related to the antioxidant properties of yams.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutrition, Providence University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yin-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Shih-Chieh
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Sin-Yie
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hsin-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: You-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hseu
authors.forename: Jiunn-Wang
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D027742:Dioscorea; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases / Q000097:blood; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D035281:Plant Tubers; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D028321:Plant Preparations; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D014280:Triglycerides; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D010458:Peptidyl Transferases