Abstract
The effect of stevia on liver cirrhosis has not been previously investigated. In the present study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of stevia leaves were studied in male Wistar rats with carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced acute and chronic liver damage. Acute and chronic liver damage induced oxidative stress, necrosis, and cholestasis, which were significantly ameliorated by stevia. Chronic CCl4 treatment resulted in liver cirrhosis, as evidenced by nodules of hepatocytes surrounded by thick bands of collagen and distortion of the hepatic architecture, and stevia significantly prevented these alterations. Subsequently, the underlying mechanism of action of the plant was analyzed. Our study for the first time shows that stevia upregulated Nrf2, thereby counteracting oxidative stress, and prevented necrosis and cholestasis through modulation of the main proinflammatory cytokines via NF-κB inhibition. These multitarget mechanisms led to the prevention of experimental cirrhosis. Given the reasonable safety profile of stevia, our results indicated that it may be useful for the clinical treatment of acute and chronic liver diseases.
Highlights
Stevia rebaudiana is a small perennial shrub that belongs to the aster or chrysanthemum family and grows in the Amambay mountain range of Paraguay [1]
This study has reported the first indication that stevia leaves possess strong activity against carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-)induced liver damage through a multitarget mechanism that includes
As a pilot study to investigate whether stevia may be a potential treatment for liver diseases, we conducted an experiment using Wistar rats with acute liver damage induced by a high dose of CCl4
Summary
Stevia rebaudiana is a small perennial shrub that belongs to the aster or chrysanthemum family and grows in the Amambay mountain range of Paraguay [1]. Several compounds with beneficial health properties have been reported in stevia leaves [2]. Insulinotropic, and glucagonostatic actions of stevia have been widely studied in diabetic rats [6,7,8,9], the potential beneficial effects of this plant on liver diseases [2]. The in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of stevia leaves were studied against acute and chronic liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration in rats [10]. This study has reported the first indication that stevia leaves possess strong activity against CCl4-induced liver damage through a multitarget mechanism that includes. Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity the improvement of antioxidant defense mediated by Nrf and blockage of the proinflammatory factor NF-κB
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