Phyto-power dietary supplement potently inhibits dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in rats

Food Funct. 2013 Feb 26;4(3):470-5. doi: 10.1039/c2fo30306j.

Abstract

Curcumin has been extensively studied for its therapeutic effects in a variety of disorders. Fermented soy consumption is associated with a low incidence rate of chronic diseases in many Asian countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential underlying mechanisms of the effect of a phyto-power dietary supplement on liver fibrosis. Sprague-Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN; 10 mg kg(-1)) three times a week for four consecutive weeks. A phyto-power dietary supplement (50 or 100 mg kg(-1)) was administered by oral gavage daily for four weeks. Liver morphology, function, and fibrotic status were examined in DMN induced hepatic fibrogenesis. However, a phyto-power dietary supplement alleviated liver damage as indicated by histopathological examination of the α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen I, accompanied by the concomitant reduction of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). These data indicate that the phyto-power dietary supplement may inhibit the TGF-β1/Smad signaling and relieve liver damage in experimental fibrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Dietary Supplements*
  • Dimethylnitrosamine / adverse effects*
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / chemically induced
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Signal Transduction
  • Smad2 Protein / metabolism
  • Smad3 Protein / metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Smad2 Protein
  • Smad2 protein, rat
  • Smad3 Protein
  • Smad3 protein, rat
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1
  • smooth muscle actin, rat
  • Collagen
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Mmp2 protein, rat
  • Curcumin
  • Dimethylnitrosamine