Abstract
Aster tataricus Linn., Suppresses Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Protects Against Thioacetamide-induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats
Department of Applied Life Science, Graduate School of Konkuk University, 1Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Konkuk University, 268 Chungwon-daero, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, 27478, 21014 Gwanggyo Ace Tower1, 17, Daehak 4-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16226, 2Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Sejong University, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, 3Department of internal Medicine, college of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
Correspondence Address:
Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Konkuk University, 268 Chungwon-daero, Chungju-si, Chungbuk, 27478, 21014 Gwanggyo Ace Tower1, 17, Daehak 4-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 16226, Republic of Korea, E-mail: minds@kku.ac.kr
Aster tataricus Linn., (Asteraceae), an oriental and nutrient potential herb used in Asian countries for various health benefits. The present study focused on the protective effects of Aster tataricus against liver fibrosis in cellular and experimental rat model. Cell cytotoxicity, cell cycle and apoptosis functions were analyzed using hepatic stellate cell line following MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining methods. For in vivo evaluation, thioacetamide-induced hepatofibrosis rat model was established. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups of 10 each (control, thioacetamide, thioacetamide with Aster tataricus extract 100, 500 mg/kg and silymarin 50 mg/kg groups, respectively). Fibrosis was induced by thioacetamide treatment (200 mg/kg, ip) 3 times per week for 13 weeks except for control group. Aster tataricus extract (100 and 500 mg/kg), and silymarin was administrated orally to each group 6 times per week from 7th week to 13th week and various fibrosis related parameters were estimated by real-time polymerase chain reaction using TRIzol Plus RNA purification kit. Results indicated that hepatic stellate cells treated with Aster tataricus extract (0.5 mg/ml) and silymarin (0.05 mg/ml) significantly (p<0.05) induced apoptosis (19.04 and 24.82 %, respectively) compared to the control group (9.78 %). Moreover, rat primary hepatic stellate cells showed morphological changes and degradation of collagen and fibronectin with treatment of Aster tataricus extract at 0.5 mg/kg. In in vivo evaluation Aster tataricus extract at concentrations of 100 and 500 mg/ml attenuated the increased serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and hydroxyproline and restored the decreased glutathione levels significantly in thioacetamide-induced fibrotic rats (p<0.05). The altered histopathology in thioacetamide-induced liver tissues and changes in fibrosis-related gene expression (TGF-β, α-SMA and Col1α1) were also restored by Aster tataricus extract treatment. In conclusion, A. tataricus can be developed as a potential therapeutic agent to treat liver fibrosis.
