title: Herbal Supplement Ameliorates Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats with CCl(4)-Induced Liver Cirrhosis.
abstract: We used the carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) induced liver cirrhosis model to test the molecular mechanism of action involved in cirrhosis-associated cardiac hypertrophy and the effectiveness of Ocimum gratissimum extract (OGE) and silymarin against cardiac hypertrophy. We treated male wistar rats with CCl(4) and either OGE (0.02 g/kg B.W. or 0.04 g/kg B.W.) or silymarin (0.2 g/kg B.W.). Cardiac eccentric hypertrophy was induced by CCl(4) along with cirrhosis and increased expression of cardiac hypertrophy related genes NFAT, TAGA4, and NBP, and the interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling pathway related genes MEK5, ERK5, JAK, and STAT3. OGE or silymarin co-treatment attenuated CCl(4)-induced cardiac abnormalities, and lowered expression of genes which were elevated by this hepatotoxin. Our results suggest that the IL-6 signaling pathway may be related to CCl(4)-induced cardiac hypertrophy. OGE and silymarin were able to lower liver fibrosis, which reduces the chance of cardiac hypertrophy perhaps by lowering the expressions of IL-6 signaling pathway related genes. We conclude that treatment of cirrhosis using herbal supplements is a viable option for protecting cardiac tissues against cirrhosis-related cardiac hypertrophy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan ; Department of Life Science, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ping-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yung-Wei
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Yueh-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Cecilia Hsuan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Day
authors.forename: Guang-Yuh
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Peiying
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chang-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Yu-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Hsiao-Chuan
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jer-Yuh
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang