Protective effects of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

AIM To investigate the protective effects of Foeniculum vulgare root bark(FVRB), a traditional Uyghur medicine, against carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice. METHODS Mice were randomly divided into eight groups(n = 20 each). Except for the normal control group, mice in the rest groups were intraperitoneally injected(i.p.) with 0.1% CCl4-olive oil mixture at 10 m L/kg twice a week to induce liver fibrosis. After 4 wk, mice were treated concurrently with the 70% ethanol extract of FVRB(88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively) daily by oral gavage for 4 wk to evaluate its protective effects. Serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), triglyceride(TG), hexadecenoic acid(HA), laminin(LN), glutathione(GSH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), and malondialdehyde(MDA) in liver tissues were measured. Hematoxylin-eosin(H and E) staining and Masson trichrome(MT) staining were performed to assess histopathological changes in the liver. The expression of transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1), matrix metalloprotein 9(MMP-9) and metallopeptidase inhibitor 1(TIMP-1) was detected by immunohistochemical analysis. Additionally, TGF-β1 and alpha-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA) protein expression was measured by Western blot.RESULTS A significant reduction in serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, HA and LN was observed in the FVRB-treated groups, suggesting that FVRB displayed hepatoprotective effects. Also, the depletion of GSH, SOD, and MDA accumulation in liver tissues was suppressed by FVRB. The expression of TGF-β1, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 determined by immunohistochemistry was markedly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by FVRB treatment. Furthermore, protective effects of FVRB against CCl4-induced liver injury were confirmed by histopathological studies. Protein expression of TGF-β1 and α-SMA detected by Western blot was decreased by FVRB treatment.CONCLUSION Our results indicate that FVRB may be a promising agent against hepatic fibrosis and its possible mechanisms are inhibiting lipid peroxidation and reducing collagen formation in liver tissue of liver fibrosis mice.