Effects of naringenin on TGF-? during ethanol induced hepatotoxicity

Abstract

The hypolipidemic effects of naringenin on liver fibrosis induced by exposure to ethanol in rats are investigated. Rats were divided into four groups, groups 1 and 2 received isocaloric glucose and 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); groups 3 and 4 received 20% ethanol equivalent to 6g/kg body weight every day for the total experimental period of 60 days. In addition, groups 2 and 4 were supplemented with naringenin (50mg/kg p.o) every day for the last 30 days of the experiment. The results showed significantly elevated levels/activities/expression of serum aspartate and alanine transaminases in ethanol fed rats as compared to those of the control. Ethanol fed rats also exhibited increased staining for the presence of transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) protein adducts in the liver. Supplementation with naringenin for the last 30 days of the experiment to ethanol-fed rats significantly decreased the activities/expression of serum aspartate and alanine transaminases and also decreased staining for the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF-?) protein adducts in the liver as compared to the control rats. These findings suggest that naringenin has a protective effect on liver injury and can inhibit liver fibrosis induced by ethanol in rats. Naringenin improved the histological changes of fibrosis. The mechanism, possibly involves its effect on inhibiting TGF-b and suppressing the activation of hepatic stellate cells.