Saussurea lappa root extract accelerates the reversion of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

Abstract

Background and aim of work Liver fibrosis is a major health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality, particularly in Egypt. It is mainly regulated by hepatic stellate cells, which acquire a fibrogenic character in response to oxidant stress and inflammatory cytokines. We tried to test the efficacy of Saussurea lappa ( Sl ) root extract on the reversion of the already established liver fibrosis as this extract was reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Materials and methods A total of 24 albino rats were divided into four groups: negative control group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) fibrosis model group, spontaneous resolution group, CCl 4 followed by Sl root extract group. In all rats, serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, liver malonaldehyde and liver reduced glutathione were measured. Histopathological assessment were carried out through haematoxylin and eosin (H&E), sirius red staining and α-smooth muscle actin immunohistochemical staining with evaluation of the fibrosis grade and percentage of the area occupied by collagen fibres. Results Administration of Sl root extract for 4 weeks, after 8 weeks of CCl 4 injection, caused a significant decrease in CCl 4 -induced rise in plasma levels of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase, liver malonaldehyde and the percentage of collagen area and an increase in liver glutathione with almost preserved liver architecture, less inflammatory infiltration, less collagen deposition, fewer thinner septa, less bridging fibrosis and less positive reaction for α-smooth muscle actin as compared with the spontaneous resolution group. Conclusion These data indicate that Sl root extract can accelerate matrix degradation and reversion from liver fibrosis induced by CCl 4 in rats. This might be through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities and through inhibition of the activated hepatic stellate cells or probably inducing their apoptosis.