Olive oil combined with Lycium barbarum polysaccharides attenuates liver apoptosis and inflammation induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

Olive oil and Lycium barbarum polysaccharides were considered to be hepatoprotective for liver fibrosis. This study investigated anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of olive oil and/or Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) on CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in rats. The results showed that CCl₄ caused liver fatty change, cell death, inflammation and collagen accumulation. The olive oil-treated groups reduced hepatic transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 levels. The LBP-treated groups inhibited hepatic caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities, decreased hepatic tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels, increased hepatic interleukin (IL)-10 levels and IL-10/TNF-α ratios, and reduced hepatic TGF-β1 and TIMP-1 levels. Olive oil combined with LBP suppressed liver apoptotic markers, inhibited liver inflammatory markers, and attenuated hepatic TGF-β1 levels. Therefore, LBP improves liver apoptotic, inflammatory and fibrotic markers, while olive oil combined with LBP has better effects on anti-apoptosis and anti-inflammation compared with olive oil treatment in rats with CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis.