Herbal Supplement Ameliorates Cardiac Hypertrophy in Rats with CCl4-Induced Liver Cirrhosis. (6th November 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Li, Ping-Chun; Chiu, Yung-Wei; Lin, Yueh-Min; Day, Cecilia Hsuan; Hwang, Guang-Yuh; Pai, Peiying; Tsai, Fuu-Jen; Tsai, Chang-Hai; Kuo, Yu-Chun; Chang, Hsiao-Chuan; Liu, Jer-Yuh; Huang, Chih-Yang
• Other Names: Ohta Y. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2012(2012)
• Publication Date: 2012-11-06
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2012/139045
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : We used the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) induced liver cirrhosis model to test the molecular mechanism of action involved in cirrhosis-associated cardiac hypertrophy and the effectiveness of Ocimum gratissimum extract (OGE) and silymarin against cardiac hypertrophy. We treated male wistar rats with CCl4 and either OGE (0.02 g/kg B.W. or 0.04 g/kg B.W.) or silymarin (0.2 g/kg B.W.). Cardiac eccentric hypertrophy was induced by CCl4 along with cirrhosis and increased expression of cardiac hypertrophy related genes NFAT, TAGA4, and NBP, and the interleukin-6 (IL-6) signaling pathway related genes MEK5, ERK5, JAK, and STAT3. OGE or silymarin co-treatment attenuated CCl4 -induced cardiac abnormalities, and lowered expression of genes which were elevated by this hepatotoxin. Our results suggest that the IL-6 signaling pathway may be related to CCl4 -induced cardiac hypertrophy. OGE and silymarin were able to lower liver fibrosis, which reduces the chance of cardiac hypertrophy perhaps by lowering the expressions of IL-6 signaling pathway related genes. We conclude that treatment of cirrhosis using herbal supplements is a viable option for protecting cardiac tissues against cirrhosis-related cardiac hypertrophy.