A triterpenoid-enriched extract of bitter melon leaves alleviates hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting inflammatory responses in carbon tetrachloride-treated mice
Journal
Food & function
Journal Volume
12
Journal Issue
17
Pages
7805
Date Issued
2021-09-07
Author(s)
Chang, Mei-Ling
Lin, Yu-Ting
Hou, Yu-Chen
Liu, Jun-Jen
Pan, Min-Hsiung
Chen, Hui-Ling
Yu, Chun-Hsien
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a progression of chronic liver disease characterized by excess deposition of fibrillary collagen. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of a triterpenoid-enriched extract (TEE) from bitter melon leaves against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. Male ICR mice received TEE (100 or 150 mg kg-1) by daily oral gavage for one week before starting CCl4 administration and throughout the entire experimental period. After intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 for nine weeks, serum and liver tissues of the mice were collected for biochemical, histopathological and molecular analyses. Our results showed that TEE supplementation reduced CCl4-induced serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities. Histopathological examinations revealed that CCl4 administration results in hepatic fibrosis, while TEE supplementation significantly suppressed hepatic necroinflammation and collagen deposition. In addition, TEE supplementation decreased α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive staining and protein levels of α-SMA and transforming growth factor-β1. TEE-supplemented mice had lower mRNA expression levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and toll-like receptor 4. Moreover, TEE (150 mg kg-1) supplementation significantly reduced intrahepatic inflammatory Ly6C+ monocyte infiltration. We demonstrated that TEE could ameliorate hepatic fibrosis by regulating inflammatory cytokine secretion and α-SMA expression in the liver to reduce collagen accumulation.
Subjects
LIVER-INJURY; MOMORDICA-CHARANTIA; FATTY LIVER; RECRUITMENT
SDGs
Other Subjects
Amino acids; Cell death; Chlorine compounds; Collagen; Deposition; Mammals; Muscle; Alanine aminotransferase; Aspartate aminotransferase; Histopathological examinations; Inflammatory response; Intraperitoneal injections; MRNA expression level; Transformin
Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
Type
journal article