Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Polyphenol-rich dietary foodstuffs, consumed as an integral part of vegetables, fruits, and beverages have attracted attention due to their antioxidant and anticancer properties. Ellagic acid (EA), a polyphenolic compound widely distributed in fruits and nuts, has been reported to scavenge free radicals and inhibit lipid peroxidation. Chronic consumption of alcohol potentially results in serious illness including hepatitis, fatty liver, hypertriglyceridemia, and cirrhosis. A little is known about the influence of EA on alcohol toxicity in vivo. Accordingly, in the present study, we have evaluated the protective effects of EA on lipid peroxidation and lipid levels during alcohol-induced toxicity in experimental rats. Forty female albino Wistar rats, which were weighing between 150-170 g were used for the study. The toxicity was induced by administration of 20% alcohol orally (7.9 g/kg body wt.) for 45 days. Rats were treated with EA at three different doses (30, 60, and 90 mg/kg body wt.) via intragastric intubations together with alcohol. At the end of experimental duration, liver marker enzymes (i.e., aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase), lipid peroxidative indices (i.e., thiobarbituriacid reactive substances and hydroperoxides) in plasma, and lipid levels (i.e., cholesterol, free fatty acids, triglycerides and phospholipids) in tissues were analyzed to evaluate the antiperoxidative and antilipidemic effects of EA. Liver marker enzymes, lipid peroxidative indices, and lipid levels, i.e., cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids, were significantly increased whereas phospholipid levels were significantly decreased in the alcohol-administered group. EA treatment resulted in positive modulation of marker enzymes, peroxidative indices, and lipid levels. EA at the dose of 60 mg/kg body wt. was found to be more effective when compared to the other two doses. Histological changes observed were also inconsistent with the biochemical parameters. Our study suggests that EA exerts beneficial effects at the dosage of 60 mg/kg body wt. against alcohol-induced damage, and it can be used as a potential drug for the treatment of alcohol-abuse ailments in the near future.
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PMID:Modulatory potential of ellagic acid, a natural plant polyphenol on altered lipid profile and lipid peroxidation status during alcohol-induced toxicity: a pathohistological study. 1841 96

ABSTRACT Alcoholic fibrosis and its end-stage cirrhosis occur when the rate of matrix synthesis exceeds matrix degradation. Hepatic fibroproliferation is associated with alterations of hepatic tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMPs) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs/matrixins) expressions. The alteration of hepatic matrixins and TIMPs expression to disease stage and inflammatory activity underlines their potential diagnostic markers in chronic liver disease. Ellagic acid (EA), a natural phenolic compound found in fruits and nuts, has potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous properties. The aim of our study was to gain further insight into the effect of EA on fibrotic markers (MMPs and TIMPs) during alcohol-induced tissue injury. To elucidate the effect on the MMPs/TIMPs balance by EA, gelatin zymography, multiwell zymography, succinylated gelatin assay, and ELISA technique (for TIMPs) were carried out. Coadministration of EA with alcohol decreased the expression of MMP-2 and -9 and TIMP-2 in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EA at the dosage of 60 mg/kg body weight effectively decreased the expression pattern of fibrotic markers during alcohol-induced toxicity. Hence, it can be developed as an antifibrotic compound in near future.
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PMID:Effect of Ellagic Acid, a Plant Polyphenol, on Fibrotic Markers (MMPs and TIMPs) during Alcohol-Induced Hepatotoxicity. 2002 Sep 58

Ellagic acid has been proven to have anticancer, antimutation, antimicrobial and antiviral functions. The present study investigated whether treatment with ellagic acid was able to prevent tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced cirrhosis through the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and angiogenesis. CCl4 diluted in olive oil at a final concentration of 10% was used to induce a cirrhosis model. A total of 40 mice were random allocated into four groups, as follows: Control, cirrhosis model, 7.5 mg/kg ellagic acid and 15 mg/kg ellagic acid groups. In the control group, mice were given normal saline. The results indicated that ellagic acid exerted a protective effect, evidently preventing CCl4-induced cirrhosis. In addition, treatment with ellagic acid significantly inhibited collagen I and inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression levels in CCl4-induced cirrhosis mice. Oxidative stress and ROS formation were also significantly reduced by ellagic acid treatment. The protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), and the caspase-3 activity were significantly inhibited by treatment with ellagic acid. In conclusions, these results suggest that ellagic acid exerted protective effects against CCl4-induced cirrhosis through the inhibition of ROS formation and angiogenesis.
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PMID:Protective effects of ellagic acid against tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis in mice through the inhibition of reactive oxygen species formation and angiogenesis. 2904 21