Liver fibrosis represents an overaccumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). This study was designed to investigate the effect of chrysin on established ECM overproduction in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) mouse liver fibrosis. Experimental fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL/kg CCl4 twice a week, for 7 weeks. Mice were orally treated with 3 doses of chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone). For the assessment of the spontaneous reversion of fibrosis, CCl4-treated mice were investigated after 2 weeks of recovery time. Silymarin was used as a standard of liver protection. In fibrotic livers, the results showed the upregulation of collagen I (Col I) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which led to an altered ECM enriched in Col, confirmed as well by electron microscopy investigations. Treatment with chrysin significantly reduced ultrastructural changes, downregulated Col I, and restored TIMP-1/MMP balance, whereas in the group observed for the spontaneous regression of fibrosis, they remained in the same pattern with fibrotic livers. In this study, we have shown chrysin efficacy to attenuate dose-dependent CCl4-stimulated liver ECM accumulation by regulation of MMP/TIMP imbalance and inhibition of Col production. We have shown the dose-dependent chrysin efficiency in attenuation of CCl4-induced liver ECM accumulation by regulation of MMP/TIMP imbalance and inhibition of Col production. Our findings suggest that chrysin oral administration may introduce a new strategy for treating liver fibrosis in humans.
Keywords: ECM; MMPs; TIMP-1; chrysin; collagen; liver fibrosis.