The Ameliorative Effects of Fucoidan in Thioacetaide-Induced Liver Injury in Mice
Ming-Yang Tsai,
Wei-Cheng Yang,
Chuen-Fu Lin,
Chao-Min Wang,
Hsien-Yueh Liu,
Chen-Si Lin,
Jen-Wei Lin,
Wei-Li Lin,
Tzu-Chun Lin,
Pei-Shan Fan,
Kuo-Hsiang Hung,
Yu-Wen Lu,
Geng-Ruei Chang
Affiliations
Ming-Yang Tsai
Animal Industry Division, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, 112 Muchang, Xinhua Dist, Tainan 71246, Taiwan
Wei-Cheng Yang
School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, 4 Section, 1 Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Chuen-Fu Lin
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Shuefu Road, Neipu, Pingtung 912301, Taiwan
Chao-Min Wang
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, 580 Xinmin Road, Chiayi 60054, Taiwan
Hsien-Yueh Liu
Bachelor Degree Program in Animal Healthcare, Hungkuang University, 6 Section, 1018 Taiwan Boulevard, Shalu District, Taichung 433304, Taiwan
Chen-Si Lin
School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, 4 Section, 1 Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Jen-Wei Lin
Bachelor Degree Program in Animal Healthcare, Hungkuang University, 6 Section, 1018 Taiwan Boulevard, Shalu District, Taichung 433304, Taiwan
Wei-Li Lin
Bachelor Degree Program in Animal Healthcare, Hungkuang University, 6 Section, 1018 Taiwan Boulevard, Shalu District, Taichung 433304, Taiwan
Tzu-Chun Lin
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, 580 Xinmin Road, Chiayi 60054, Taiwan
Pei-Shan Fan
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, 580 Xinmin Road, Chiayi 60054, Taiwan
Kuo-Hsiang Hung
Graduate Institute of Bioresources, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, 1 Shuefu Road, Neipu, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan
Yu-Wen Lu
Department of Chinese Medicine, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, 1 Section, 542 Chung-Shan Road, Changhua 50008, Taiwan
Geng-Ruei Chang
Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chiayi University, 580 Xinmin Road, Chiayi 60054, Taiwan
Liver disorders have been recognized as one major health concern. Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from the brown seaweed Fucus serratus, has previously been reported as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. However, the discovery and validation of its hepatoprotective properties and elucidation of its mechanisms of action are still unknown. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effect and possible modes of action of a treatment of fucoidan against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury in male C57BL/6 mice by serum biochemical and histological analyses. The mouse model for liver damage was developed by the administration of TAA thrice a week for six weeks. The mice with TAA-induced liver injury were orally administered fucoidan once a day for 42 days. The treated mice showed significantly higher body weights; food intakes; hepatic antioxidative enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)); and a lower serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Additionally, a reduced hepatic IL-6 level and a decreased expression of inflammatory-related genes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA was observed. These results demonstrated that fucoidan had a hepatoprotective effect on liver injury through the suppression of the inflammatory responses and acting as an antioxidant. In addition, here, we validated the use of fucoidan against liver disorders with supporting molecular data.
