Beneficial effects of yam on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

In a previous study, lyophilised yam reduced brain amyloid beta-protein (Abeta) 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 CCl(4) 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 gamma-glutaminotranspeptidase (GGT), low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride in serum when compared with those administered CCl(4) 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 CCl(4)-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 CCl(4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats in a dose-dependent manner; this attenuation may be related to the antioxidant properties of yams.

• Authors: Yin-Ching Chan, Shih-Chieh Chang, Sin-Yie Liu, Hsin-Ling Yang, You-Cheng Hseu, Jiunn-Wang Liao
• Journal: Journal of the science of food and agriculture (J Sci Food Agric) Vol. 90 Issue 1 Pg. 161-7 (Jan 15 2010) ISSN: 1097-0010 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 20355026 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright (c) 2009 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Lipoproteins, LDL
• Plant Preparations
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen
• Triglycerides
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Glutathione Peroxidase
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Peptidyl Transferases

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Body Weight
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury (drug therapy, metabolism)
• Dioscorea
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Glutathione Peroxidase (metabolism)
• Lipoproteins, LDL (blood)
• Liver (drug effects, enzymology, pathology)
• Liver Cirrhosis (chemically induced, drug therapy, metabolism)
• Male
• Organ Size (drug effects)
• Peptidyl Transferases (blood)
• Plant Preparations (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Plant Tubers
• Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Superoxide Dismutase (metabolism)
• Triglycerides (blood)