Beneficial effects of yam on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats
2010
Chan, Yin-Ching | Zhang, Shijie | Liu, Sin-Yie | Yang, Hsin-Ling | Hseu, You-Cheng | Liao, Jiunn-Wang
BACKGROUND: In a previous study, lyophilised yam reduced brain amyloid β-protein (Aβ) accumulation and improved the antioxidative defence system in senescence-accelerated (SAMP8) mice. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the hepatic protection of yam in the carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis of rats. Hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats via intraperitoneal injections of CCl₄ at a dose of 1 mL kg⁻¹ body weight (BW) twice weekly for 8 weeks. Three groups of rats were gavaged daily with yams at doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 g kg⁻¹ BW for 8 weeks, respectively.RESULTS: Yam treatments significantly decreased the ratio of liver/body weight, levels of γ-glutaminotranspeptidase (GGT), low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride in serum when compared with those administered CCl₄ alone. Treatment with yams significantly elevated antioxidant activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxidase dismutase (SOD) in livers. Microscopically, yam-treated groups presented with low histoscores of CCl₄-induced liver injury and fibrosis. Additionally, yam treatment reduced the area of GGT-positive foci and the index of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in liver.CONCLUSION: Daily administration of yam attenuates CCl₄-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats in a dose-dependent manner; this attenuation may be related to the antioxidant properties of yams.
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