Abstract

AMELIORATION OF HEPATOCYTE GROWTH FACTOR AND MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE ENZYMES BY JUNIPERUS PHOENICEA EXTRACT IN CCL4 INDUCED RATS

Mehrevan M. AbdEl-Moniem*, Gamila S. M. Elsaeed, Nadia A. Mohammed, Heba Hassan, Mahmoud A. El-Dabaa and Enayat A. Omara

ABSTRACT

The Lack of effective treatment for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular-carcinoma imposes serious challenges to the healthcare system. Here, we investigated the hepatoprotective efficacy of Juniperus Phoenicea on a rat model induced with CCL4. CCL4 induction (1 mg/kg bwt) significantly increases the levels of liver marker enzymes; serum aminotransferases (AST&ALT), DNA damage, and antioxidant parameters, namely malondialdehyde(MDA), nitricoxide(NO), with a reduction in paraoxinase1(PON1) as compared to the control group. Moreover, CCL4-induced toxicity caused profound changes in liver histology with increasing in DNA damage, hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) as well as matrix metalloproteinase(MMP-9). Treatment with J. Phoenicea (300 mg/kg bwt) successfully attenuated liver injury, indicated by histopathology, decreased DNA damage, serum-transaminases and improved oxidative status of the liver. On the Other hand, it ameliorate the levels of HGF and MMP-9. Our study clearly indicated that J. phoenicea exhibited a protective effect on CCL4-induced hepatic injury by elevating the antioxidative defense potential and consequently suppressing the inflammatory response and apoptosis of liver tissues.

Keywords: hepatocellular damage, Juniperus Phoenicea, CCL4.