Background Liver fibrosis is the main contributor to the chronic liver-associated morbidity and mortality. Purpose The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of whole plant powder of dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale ) on liver fibrosis. Methods Liver fibrosis was induced by the oral administration of 20% carbon tetrachloride (CCL4), twice a week for 8 weeks. Simultaneously, dandelion root extract (500 mg/kg) was daily administered via the same route. Results Dandelion remarkably improved the liver histology as evidenced by histopathological scoring with hematoxylin-eosin staining. Masson staining and hydroxyproline content similarly showed that dandelion decreased collagen deposition. Both mRNA and protein levels of α-smooth muscle actin and collagens 1 and 3 have been decreased after dandelion treatment compared to CCL4 group. Dandelion also downregulated the mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors interleukin-IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, remodeling growth factor-β1, cyclooxygenase-2, and nuclear factor kappa-B and decreased the myeloperoxidase activity. Additionally, the effects of dandelion were associated with the decreased levels of the hepatic oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and P. carbonyl) and elevation of the activity of superoxide dismutase activity. Dandelion’s effect to alleviate the fibrosis and inflammation induced by CCL4 treatment in the livers and was more pronounced than with silymarin. The total antioxidant study of dandelion extract revealed that dandelion has notable ferric reducing antioxidant power and high total phenolic content. Conclusion Finally, these results suggest that dandelion prevents the progression of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCL4. The dandelion’s antifibrotic effects could be attributed to its ability to scavenge free radicals and to attenuate inflammatory cells activations.

中文翻译：

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蒲公英可预防大鼠肝纤维化、炎症反应和氧化应激

背景 肝纤维化是导致慢性肝脏相关发病率和死亡率的主要因素。目的本研究旨在评价蒲公英（Taraxacum officinale）全草粉对肝纤维化的影响。方法 口服20%四氯化碳（CCL4）诱导肝纤维化，每周2次，共8周。同时，每天通过相同途径施用蒲公英根提取物 (500 mg/kg)。结果 蒲公英显着改善了肝脏组织学，如苏木精-伊红染色的组织病理学评分所证明的那样。Masson 染色和羟脯氨酸含量同样显示蒲公英减少胶原沉积。与 CCL4 组相比，蒲公英治疗后 α-平滑肌肌动蛋白和胶原蛋白 1 和 3 的 mRNA 和蛋白质水平均降低。蒲公英还下调炎症因子白细胞介素-IL-1β、肿瘤坏死因子-α、重塑生长因子-β1、环氧合酶-2和核因子κ-B的mRNA表达，并降低髓过氧化物酶活性。此外，蒲公英的作用与肝脏氧化应激标志物（丙二醛和羰基假单胞菌）水平降低和超氧化物歧化酶活性升高有关。蒲公英减轻由 CCL4 治疗引起的肝脏纤维化和炎症的作用比水飞蓟素更显着。蒲公英提取物的总抗氧化研究表明，蒲公英具有显着的铁还原抗氧化能力和高总酚含量。结论 最后，这些结果表明，蒲公英可防止 CCL4 诱导的肝纤维化进展。蒲公英的抗纤维化作用可归因于其清除自由基和减弱炎症细胞活化的能力。