title: Silymarin decreases connective tissue growth factor to improve liver fibrosis in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride.
abstract: Silymarin is an herbal product showing potential as protection against hepatic disorders. In an attempt to develop the agent for the treatment of hepatic fibrosis, we screened the effects of silymarin on a rat model of hepatic fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Intraperitoneal administration of CCl₄ to rats for 8 weeks not only increased the plasma levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) but also induced a marked increase in the formation of hepatic fibrosis. Moreover, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also reduced in the liver of rats treated with CCl₄. Oral administration of silymarin (200 mg/kg, three times daily), in parallel, decreased the plasma levels of GOT and GPT. Furthermore, in addition to the improvement of hepatic fibrosis, the hepatic levels of hydroxyproline and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were both markedly decreased by silymarin. Silymarin also elevated the activities of SOD and GPx in liver isolated from CCl₄-treated rats. The results suggest that oral administration of silymarin protects against CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats, likely due to the decrease in fibrotic parameters such as CTGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Sciences and Technology, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Sciences, Jen-Te, Tainan City, Taiwan 71701.
authors.forename: Jann-Inn
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Tzeng
authors.forename: Mei-Fen
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsien-Hui
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Juei-Tang
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012838:Silymarin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012838:Silymarin; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D006909:Hydroxyproline