Hepatoprotective and antifibrotic activity of watercress extract in a model of CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in Wistar rats

Abstract

The present study aimed to analyze the antioxidant and hepatoprotective efficacy of watercress extract against liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 (0.8 mL/kg, i.p) in an in vivo rat model. Four groups were included, each with five animals (n = 5): 1) Intact, 2) CCl4-induced for 4 weeks, 3) CCl4-induced for 8 weeks, and 4) CCl4-induced for 4 weeks followed by watercress extract treatment (600 mg/kg/day) until week 8. Tissue samples were analyzed using histological techniques (H&E, Sirius Red, Masson's trichrome stain), biochemical methods, and gene expression analysis of IL-1, IL-10, TGF-β, NRF2, Keap1, Acta2, Timp-2, MMP-13, and MMP-9. Watercress extract administration resulted in improvements by preventing steatosis and fibrosis. It also increased IL-10 expression in the liver and intestine. Additionally, the expression of fibrogenic markers such as TGF-β, Col 1α, Acta2, and Timp-2 was regulated. These results suggest that orally administered watercress extract prevents the progression of liver fibrosis.

Keywords

• Hepatoprotective activity
• Interleukin
• Liver fibrosis
• Oxidative stress
• Watercress extract