Therapeutic efficacy of apigenin nanoemulsion on hepatic fibrosis

Abstract

Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of apigenin nanoemulsion on fibrosis of the liver in rats, and study the mechanisms. Methods Liver fibrosis was induced in rats by CCl4 administration. Ninety SD rats were adaptively fed for 1 week and then randomly divided into 6 groups. Rats in normal group were given olive oil 2 mL/kg by subcutaneous injection; rats in model group were given 25% CCl4 olive oil (2 mL/kg) by the same way. Rats in three treatment groups were given 25% CCl4 olive oil and added apigenin nanoemulsion (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) by intragastric administration each day. Rats in positive control group were given both 25% CCl4 olive oil (2 mL/kg) and silybin (100 mg/kg) . The 25% CCl4 olive oil was given twice weekly (interval of 2 days) for 8 weeks. The hepatic tissue and serum were detected within 24 hours after the last administration, and the effects of apigenin nanoemulsion on the levels of hepatic function indices (ALT and AST) , hepatic fibrosis indices [hyaluronic acid (HA) , laminin (LN) , procollagenⅢ (PC Ⅲ) and Ⅳ collagen (Ⅳ-C) ], malonaldehyde (MDA) , hydroxyproline (Hyp) , superoxide dismutase (SOD) , glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) , transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) , tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and smooth muscle actin-α (α-SMA) were analyzed. Results Apigenin nanoemulsion could significantly reduce the levels of ALT, AST, LN, PCⅢ and Ⅳ-C (F= 13.851, 6.877, 5.352, 7.469, 20.874, P all <0.01) . It could increase the activity of SOD and GSH-PX, while reduce the content of Hyp (F=5.470, 20.734, 195.76, P all <0.01) , and reduce the expressions of TIMP-1, TGF-β1 and α-SMA (F=82.281, 72.359, 91.226, P all<0.01) . Conclusions Apigenin nanoemulsion reduces CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism may relate to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation reaction and the regulation of TGF-β1, TIMP-1 and α-SMA expression. Key words: Liver cirrhosis; Apigenin nanoemulsion; TGF-β1; TIMP-1; α-SMA