title: Anti-fibrotic effects of the anthocyanins isolated from the purple-fleshed sweet potato on hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine administration in rats.
abstract: In current study, we investigated the protective effects of the anthocyanin fraction (AF) obtained from the purple-fleshed sweet potato on hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) administration in rats. Treatment with DMN for 4 weeks produced marked liver fibrosis as assessed by increased serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity and hepatic collagen content. These increases were inhibited by treatment with AF prior to the administration of DMN. In addition, AF inhibited DMN-induced reductions in rat body and liver weights in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological evaluation of the rat livers revealed that AF reduced the incidence of hepatic fibrosis lesions and inhibited DMN-induced increases in α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I and III expression levels. AF also decreased DMN-induced expression levels platelet-derived growth factor receptors-beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and transforming growth factor-beta. This study demonstrates that AF administration can effectively improve liver fibrosis caused by DMN, and may be used as a therapeutic option and preventive measure against hepatic fibrosis.
authors: Department of Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Gung-dong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae Ho
authors: JH
authors: Choi
authors: Yong Pil
authors: YP
authors: Hwang
authors: Chul Yung
authors: CY
authors: Choi
authors: Young Chul
authors: YC
authors: Chung
authors: Hye Gwang
authors: HG
authors: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000872:Anthocyanins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000633:toxicity; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D027723:Ipomoea batatas / Q000737:chemistry*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000872:Anthocyanins; D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D010936:Plant Extracts; C498862:Acta2 protein, rat