Role of Vaccinium arctostaphylos extract on CCl4-induced chronic liver fibrosis in rats

Abstract

Liver fibrosis is an initial stage of cirrhosis being a result of the pathological deposition of the extracellular matrix. Plants, present a worthwhile source for new drug finding because of a remarkable chemical variety of compounds existing within. Vaccinium arctostaphylos (Va) fruit contains many bioactive anthocyanins that have powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties and traditionally are used to control hypertension and diabetes mellitus in Iran. The current study was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Va in chronic liver fibrosis. Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats to evaluate the effect of the methanolic extract Vaccinium arctostaphylos. Total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the extract were measured. The anti-fibrotic properties of Va were evaluated on the inflammatory and fibrogenic parameters.Va significantly compensated CCl4-induced increase of liver function enzymes in serum and histopathological architectural, inflammatory, and fibrotic alterations. Moreover, overactivity of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and an elevated level of nitric oxide (NO) were effectively blocked by Va, suggesting the suppression of liver inflammation. The expression of transforming growth factor-beta )TGF-β1(, transforming growth factor-beta receptor II )TGF-βRII(, matrix metalloproteinase-2)MMP-2(, matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA_) was significantly downregulated, indicating regulated extracellular matrix content. These findings implicated that Va possessed a hepatoprotective effect by improving hepatic inflammation and fibrogenesis, and this potential was may be due to its antioxidant properties.