Abstract
Previously we found carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) induced cirrhosis associated cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis. The purpose of this study is to determine whether further CCl4 treatment would induce cardiac cell fibrosis. The cardiac tissues were analyzed by H&E. histological staining, Trichrome Masson staining and Western blotting. The results showed that the CCl 4 -treated-only group exhibits more trichrome staining, meaning that more fibrosis is present. Moreover, CCl 4 could further induce cardiac-fibrosis via TGF-β-p-Smad2/3-CTGF pathway. However, our data showed that the CCl 4 -indcued cardiac abnormalities were attenuated by Ocimum gratissimum extract (OGE) and silymarin cotreatments. In conclusion, our results indicated that the OGE and silymarin may be a potential traditional herb for the protection of cardiac tissues from the CCl 4 induced cirrhosis associated cardiac fibrosis through modulating the TGF-β signaling pathway.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 41-47 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Chinese Journal of Physiology |
Volume | 57 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2014 |
Keywords
- Cardiac fibrosis
- Ocimum gratissimum
- Silymarin
- TGF-β
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Physiology (medical)