title: Protective Effect of Zingiber Officinale against CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis Is Mediated through Downregulating the TGF-β1/Smad3 and NF-ĸB/IĸB Pathways.
abstract: No ideal hepatoprotective agents are available in modern medicine to effectively prevent liver disorders. In this study, we aimed at evaluating the potential of Zingiber officinale in the regression of liver fibrosis and its underlining mechanism of action. To induce liver fibrosis, male Wistar rats received CCl4 (2 ml/kg/2 times/week; i.p.), with and without 300 or 600 mg/kg Z. officinale extract daily through oral gavage. To assess the protective effect of Z. officinale, liver function parameters, histopathology, inflammatory markers and gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)/Smad3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB)/IĸB pathways were analyzed. Results demonstrate that Z. officinale extract markedly prevented liver injury as evident by the decreased liver marker enzymes. Concurrent administration of Z. officinale significantly protected against the CCl4-induced inflammation as showed by the decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels as well as the downregulation of the NF-ĸB)/IĸB and TGF-β1/Smad3 pathways in CCl4-administered rats. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that the protective effect of Z. officinale against rat liver fibrosis could be explained through its ability to modulate the TGF-β1/Smad3 and NF-ĸB)/IĸB signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Postgraduate Studies for Advanced Sciences (PSAS), Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt.
authors.forename: Iman H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Desouky
authors.forename: Walaa G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Hozayen
authors.forename: Ghada M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Abd el Aziz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015870:Gene Expression; D020939:Zingiber officinale; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D027343:Rhizome; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D051906:Smad7 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D051906:Smad7 Protein; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride