Date fruits inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis and modulate the expression of hepatocyte growth factor, cytochrome P450 2E1 and heme oxygenase-1 in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis

• Published in: Archives of physiology and biochemistry Vol. 123; no. 2; pp. 78 - 92
• Main Authors: Al-Rasheed, Nouf M., Attia, Hala A., Mohamad, Raeesa A., Al-Rasheed, Nawal M., Al Fayez, Musaed, Al-Amin, Maha A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01-05-2017
• Subjects: Animals; apoptosis; Apoptosis - drug effects; Carbon Tetrachloride - toxicity; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning - etiology; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning - prevention & control; casapase-3; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 - metabolism; cytochrome P450 2E1; Fruit - chemistry; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Heme Oxygenase-1 - metabolism; hepatocyte growth factor; Hepatocyte Growth Factor - metabolism; Hepatocytes - drug effects; Hepatocytes - metabolism; Hepatocytes - pathology; Immunoblotting; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Liver Cirrhosis - chemically induced; Liver Cirrhosis - drug therapy; Liver Cirrhosis - metabolism; Liver fibrosis; Male; Phoeniceae - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; apoptosis; cytochrome P450 2E1; Liver fibrosis; casapase-3; hepatocyte growth factor
• ISSN: 1381-3455; 1744-4160
• DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2016.1251945

Context: Date fruits have protective effects against liver fibrosis; however their anti-apoptotic effects have not been investigated.
Objective: To investigate the modulating effects of date fruits on pro- and anti-apoptotic markers, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in liver fibrosis. Materials and methods: Liver fibrosis was induced by injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl
4
) for eight weeks. Date flesh extract (DFE) and pits extract (DPE) were taken daily concomitant with CCl
4
. Hepatocyte apoptosis was determined by measuring the expression of Fas, caspase-3, Bax, Bcl2 and hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1). Hepatic levels of HGF and CYP2E1 were determined.
Results: Treatment with DFE and DPE significantly attenuated the elevated levels of Fas, caspase 3, Bax and CYP2E1 induced by CCl
4
. In addition, they alleviated the reduction in Bcl2, HGF and HO-1, the cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic factors in liver. Conclusions DFE and DPE treatment can ameliorate liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.