Rhein Inhibits Liver Fibrosis Induced By Carbon Tetrachloride/Ethanol In Rats

AIM: To investigate the effect and the possible mechnism of rhein on liver fibrosis induced by the exposure of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)/ethanol in rats .METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four study groups (n=10 each group): healthy controls, CCVethanol-injured rats left untreated, and CQVethanol-injured rats treated with rhein of low-dose (25 mg ·kg-1) and high-dose (100 mg · kg-1). Rhein was given once a day since rat received CCl4/ethanol injury. After administration of rhein for 6 weeks rats were killed. The following parameters were determined: the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), the concentrations of procollagen type III (PC-III), hyalauronic acid-4-(HA) and laminin(LN) in serum, the level of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissuse, the degree of liver fibrosis, the change of histology, and the expression of β-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-|31) in liver tissue.RESULTS: Treatment of rhein markedly decreased the ALT and IL-1βactivities, PC-Ill, HA and LN concentrations, and liver MDA level in CCl4/ethanol-injured rats (P<0.01), but increased the liver levels of SOD (P<0.05 or P<0.01); it also improved significantly histological changes of fibrosis and reduced the expression of α-SMA, TGF-βl in liver of these rats (P<0.05 or P <0.01).CONCLUSION: Rhein has protective effect on liver injury and can inhibit liver fibrosis induced by CCl4/ethanol in rats. The mechanisms possibly contribute to its action of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, also associated with its effect of inhibiting TGF-β1 and suppressing the activation of HSC...