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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies
Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research article

Effect of ginseng extract on the TGF-β1 signaling pathway in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Authors: Mohamed M. Hafez, Sherifa S. Hamed, Manal F. El-Khadragy, Zeinab K. Hassan, Salim S. Al Rejaie, Mohamed M. Sayed-Ahmed, Naif O. Al-Harbi, Khalid A. Al-Hosaini, Mohamed M. Al-Harbi, Ali R. Alhoshani, Othman A. Al-Shabanah, Shakir Dekhal Alsharari

Published in: BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

Liver diseases are major global health problems. Ginseng extract has antioxidant, immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigated the effect of ginseng extract on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group, ginseng group, CCl4 group and CCl4 + ginseng group. Liver injury was induced by the intraperitoneal (I.P) injection of 3 ml/kg CCl4 (30% in olive oil) weekly for 8 weeks. The control group was I.P injected with olive oil. The expression of genes encoding transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), type I TGF-β receptor (TβR-1), type II TGF-β receptor (TβR-II), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (Smad2), Smad3, Smad4, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, tissue inhibitor matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), Collagen 1a2 (Col1a2), Collagen 3a1 (Col3a1), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin -10 (IL-10) were measured by real-time PCR.

Results

Treatment with ginseng extract decreased hepatic fat deposition and lowered hepatic reticular fiber accumulation compared with the CCl4 group. The CCl4 group showed a significant increase in hepatotoxicity biomarkers and up-regulation of the expression of genes encoding TGF-β, TβR-I, TβR-II, MMP2, MMP9, Smad-2,-3, -4, and IL-8 compared with the control group. However, CCl4 administration resulted in the significant down-regulation of IL-10 mRNA expression compared with the control group. Interestingly, ginseng extract supplementation completely reversed the biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity and the gene expression alterations induced by CCl4.

Conclusion

ginseng extract had an anti‐fibrosis effect via the regulation of the TGF‐β1/Smad signaling pathway in the CCl4‐induced liver fibrosis model. The major target was the inhibition of the expression of TGF‐β1, Smad2, and Smad3.
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Metadata
Title
Effect of ginseng extract on the TGF-β1 signaling pathway in CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats
Authors
Mohamed M. Hafez
Sherifa S. Hamed
Manal F. El-Khadragy
Zeinab K. Hassan
Salim S. Al Rejaie
Mohamed M. Sayed-Ahmed
Naif O. Al-Harbi
Khalid A. Al-Hosaini
Mohamed M. Al-Harbi
Ali R. Alhoshani
Othman A. Al-Shabanah
Shakir Dekhal Alsharari
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 2662-7671
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-016-1507-0

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