الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Liver fibrosis can be induced by a variety of factors, including viral or metabolic. It is a critical worldwide health concern. Fibrosis is a significant determinant for all liver disease outcomes, including HCC, since it correlates with disease progression. Regardless of the primary etiologies for liver disease, the advancement of fibrotic liver follows similar patterns. Liver fibrosis can be reversed by removing or eliminating the causal cause, such as a viral infection. However, because reversal typically happens too slowly, anti-fibrotic medications are needed to prevent liver disease progression and the formation of HCC, especially in individuals with severe fibrosis. There is an increasing attention worldwide to investigate the antioxidant efficiency of traditional medicinal plants, which may be used to alleviate oxidative stress. One of the most important medicinal plants is dandelion (TO). TO has been used in medicine from a long period. Globally, more than 80 percent of communities rely on herbal remedies to treat various human complications. T.O considered a member of the Asteracea family, generally found in North and South America, New Zealand and in Africa. T.Officinale possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-fibrotic activities. Dandelion includes a diverse range of phytochemicals that include terpenoids, polysaccharides, sesquiterpene lactones& phenolic compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Taraxacum Officinale leaves ethanol extract on antioxidant enzymes and liver fibrosis in rats at different levels; histological, chemicals assays for plant, biochemical assays for animals, redox parameters measuring and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines.
The study was conducted on 36 male albino rats (150-200gm) three months old. Liver fibrosis model was induced in rats using Ccl4 that was given intraperitoneal (1 mL/kg) dissolved in olive oil (1:1 v/v) for 8 weeks; three times weekly, then two times weekly for 2 weeks. The animals were divided into seven groups; group I (Control group): consisted of 6 healthy male rats that was feed with normal diet. group II (CCL4 group): consisted of 6 rats that were injected only with CCL4 (1 mL/kg) dissolved in olive oil (1:1 v/v) inter peritoneum (3 times per weeks, day by day for 8 weeks) to induce liver fibrosis. group Ⅲ (1st Treated group (200mg/kg TO)): consisted of six fibrotic rats orally administrated with 200 mg/kg of Taraxacum Oficinale leaves extract for four weeks. group Ⅳ (2nd Treated group (600mg TO/kg)): consisted of six fibrotic rats orally administrated with 600 mg/kg of Taraxacum Oficinale leaves extract for four weeks. group V (3rd Treated group (800mg/kg TO)): consist of six fibrotic rats orally administrated with 800 mg/kg of Taraxacum Oficinale leaves extract for four weeks. group VI (4th Treated group (600mg/kg TO+600mg/kg silymarin)): consist of six fibrotic rats orally administrated with 600 mg/kg of Taraxacum Oficinale leaves extract for four weeks in addition to oral administration of sylimarie dose ranges from 600mg. Rats were slaughtered at the end of treatment, and blood samples were taken through heart puncture. Serum was collected and maintained at -80°C after coagulation for further analysis of liver functions and enzymes such ALT, AST, albumin, total protein, and bilirubin (total & direct). The liver tissue was removed and divided into three pieces: a small portion was removed for histochemical studies by fixation with 10% neutral-buffered
Summary and Conclusion
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formalin (NBF), and the remaining portion was stored for mRNA extraction for gene expression of many inflammatory cytokines, including (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, IL-6) and Col3A1. The remaining part was quickly frozen and stored at -80°C for redox parameter assessment (MDA, GPx and SOD). At the level of the plant, TO ethanolic leaves and roots extract were prepared using typical dandelion leaves and roots which were taken from a natural habitat where they are cultivated. Plants were dried in air at a temperature below 30 °C without being exposed directly to sunlight. The raw material was dried in air and mashed with a mortar and pestle. Each 50 g of air-dried plant was suspended in 1 liter of 70% ethanol and kept in a shaking incubator for 24 hours at 35°C with constant stirring. The mixture was then filtered using filter paper. The filtrate and ethanol extract were then evaporated to dryness using a rotary evaporator at a maximum temperature of 40°C. The extract was collected, freeze-dried, and kept at 20◦C until testing. We measured antioxidants including phenolic compounds, flavonoids and antioxidant activity in addition to the proximate analysis of the extract.
CCL4 group showed significant increase in liver functions (SGPT, SGOT and total bilirubin), with significant elevation in MDA level and significant decrease in antioxidant enzyme as SOD which confirming the liver injury beside histopathological observations. On the other wise, almost all treated groups showed enhancement in some biochemical parameters as ALT, AST and bilirubin (total and direct), redox parameters as (MDA, SOD and GPx) especially group Ⅴ (600mg TO) and group Ⅵ (800mg TO) which were showed significant elevation in SOD and GPx with significant decrease in MDA level. All treated groups also showed significant decrease in gene expression of pro inflammatory cytokines as (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and fibrotic parameters as TGF-β and collagen (Col3A1). Specifically, group Ⅴ (600mg TO) showed almost all significant conditions that confirmed the enhancement of liver fibrosis. from this study we concluded that; The best effective dose of Taraxacum Officinale ethanolic leaves extract is 600mg/kg in the enhancement of liver fibrosis condition. The low synergistic effect of TO extract with silymarin on liver fibrosis enhancement. TO extract has powerful dose-dependent therapeutic effects in decreasing the important pro-inflammatory cytokines as IL-1β and fibrotic parameters as TGF-β. The TO extract targets multiple pathways that play key roles in the development of liver fibrosis including; activation of HSCs (TO aid in inactivation of HSCs and so remain it in normal quiescent state), oxidative stress (reducing MDA and increasing the antioxidant enzymes SOD and GPx) and suppressed gene expression of important different inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1β, IL-6). Further studies are suggested to investigate the protective and therapeutic effects of TO extract in patients with early stages of liver fibrosis.