Hepatoprotective effect of 2,3-dehydrosilybin on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of 2,3-dehydrosilybin (DHS) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury in rats. Administration of DHS significantly attenuated the levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and liver lipid peroxidation in CCl4-treated rats. Moreover, we showed that DHS prevented DNA damage and decreased the protein levels of γ-H2AX, which is a specific DNA damage marker, in CCl4-treated rat livers. DHS also markedly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase in CCl4-treated rat livers. Furthermore, we found that DHS significantly inhibited the production of serum nitric oxide as well as the levels of serum IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in CCl4-treated rats. Additionally, DHS significantly suppressed iNOS expression on the protein levels in CCl4-treated rat livers. Collectively, the present study suggests that DHS protects the liver from CCl4-induced hepatic damage via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.