Fucoidan partly prevents CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis

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• 作者：Shinji Hayashi ; Ayano Itoh ; Katsuhiro Isoda ; Masuo Kondoh ; Masaya Kawase ; Kiyohito Yagi
• 关键词：Fucoidan ; Liver fibrosis ; Hepatocyte ; Hepatic stellate cell
• 刊名：European Journal of Pharmacology
• 出版年：2008
• 出版时间：12 February 2008
• 年：2008
• 卷：580
• 期：3
• 页码：380-384
• 全文大小：333 K

文摘

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown algae, has a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-tumor activities. In the present study, we investigated the effects of fucoidan on CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis. Administration of fucoidan reduced CCl₄-induced acute and chronic liver failure. Hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl₄ was also attenuated by injection of fucoidan. Damage to hepatocytes and activation of hepatic stellate cells are key events in liver fibrosis, and, interestingly, treatment of hepatocytes with fucoidan prevented CCl₄-induced cell death and inhibited the proliferation hepatic stellate cells. These results indicate that fucoidan might be a promising anti-fibrotic agent possessing dual functions, namely, protection of hepatocytes and inhibition of hepatic stellate cell proliferation.