humulene and Carbon-Tetrachloride-Poisoning

Plant-based whole foods provide thousands of bioactive metabolites to the human diet that reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. β-Caryophyllene (CAR) is a common constituent of the essential oil of numerous plants, vegetables, fruits and medicinal herbs, and has been used as a flavouring agent since the 1930 s. Here, we report the antioxidant activity of CAR, its protective effect on liver fibrosis and its inhibitory capacity on hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation. CAR was tested for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and as a free radical scavenger. CAR had higher inhibitory capacity on lipid peroxidation than probucol, α-humulene and α-tocopherol. Also, CAR showed high scavenging activities against hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion. The activity of 5-lipoxygenase, an enzyme that actively participates in fibrogenesis, was significantly inhibited by CAR. Carbon tetrachloride-treated rats received CAR at 2, 20 and 200 mg/kg. CAR significantly improved liver structure, and reduced fibrosis and the expression of Col1a1, Tgfb1 and Timp1 genes. Oxidative stress was used to establish a model of HSC activation with overproduction of extracellular matrix proteins. CAR (1 and 10 μm) increased cell viability and significantly reduced the expression of fibrotic marker genes. CAR, a sesquiterpene present in numerous plants and foods, is as a natural antioxidant that reduces carbon tetrachloride-mediated liver fibrosis and inhibits hepatic cell activation.

Topics: alpha-Tocopherol; Animals; Antioxidants; Arachidonate 5-Lipoxygenase; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Dietary Supplements; Female; Flavoring Agents; Free Radical Scavengers; Hepatic Stellate Cells; Lipid Peroxidation; Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; Liver; Monocyclic Sesquiterpenes; Oxidative Stress; Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes; Probucol; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sesquiterpenes

Topics: Animals; Brain Chemistry; Cannabis; Carbon Radioisotopes; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Dronabinol; Feces; Male; Mice; Pharmaceutical Vehicles; Phenobarbital; Proadifen; Sex Factors; Thiocyanates

Topics: Alcoholism; Cannabis; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning; Child; Female; Humans; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide; Psychoses, Substance-Induced; Substance-Related Disorders