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Planta Med 2007; 73(5): 433-438
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-967182
Original Paper
Pharmacology
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Prevention of Early Liver Injury by Breviscapine in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Yong-Gui Wu1 , Ling-Ling Xia2 , Hui Lin1 , Dian Zhou1 , Hao Qian1 , Shan-Tan Lin3
  • 1Department of Nephrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P. R. China
  • 2Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P. R. China
  • 3Department of Nephropathy, Huashan Hospital, FuDan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
Further Information

Publication History

Received: July 23, 2005 Revised: March 7, 2007

Accepted: March 13, 2007

Publication Date:
19 April 2007 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of breviscapine extracted from the Chinese herb Erigeron breviscapus on liver injury in diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin. Treatment with breviscapine significantly reduced liver weight, liver lipid level, fatty liver and liver fibrosis score in diabetic rats. Treatment with breviscapine also significantly decreased lipid peroxidation malondiadehyde levels and increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in diabetic liver. Immunohistochemical observations revealed that macrophage (ED-1-positive cells) infiltration in diabetic liver was inhibited by treatment with breviscapine. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 in diabetic liver was lowered by breviscapine treatment. In conclusion, our results indicate that breviscapine has potential as a treatment for diabetic liver injury through attenuating liver lipid accumulation and oxidative stress.

Key words

Breviscapine - diabetes - liver - oxidative stress - macrophage - transforming growth factor-β1

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Prof. Dr. Yong-Gui Wu

Department of Nephrology

The First Affiliated Hospital

Anhui Medical University

Hefei 230032

People's Republic of China

Phone: +86 551 292 2450

Fax: +86 551 363 3742

Email: wygxll@ah163.com

    www.thieme-connect.de/ejournals/toc/plantamedica