The protective effects of a fermented substance from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats

SummaryBackground & aimsThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a fermented substance from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (FSSC) on the liver fibrosis induced by chronic carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) administration in rats.MethodsRats were divided randomly into four groups: control, CCl4, and two FSSC groups. Except for rats in the control group, all rats were orally administered CCl4 twice a week for 8 weeks. Rats in the FSSC groups were treated daily with FSSC (0.5 or 1.5 g/kg) through gastrogavage for the entire experimental period.ResultsCCl4 caused liver damage, as characterized by increases in levels of plasma transaminase, hepatic malondialdehyde, and hydroxyproline, in addition to increases in spleen and liver weights and decreases in plasma albumin levels. Compared with CCl4 group, FSSC (1.5 g/kg) treatment significantly decreased the spleen (P < 0.01) and liver (P < 0.01) weights, the activities of transaminase (P < 0.05), and levels of hepatic malondialdehyde (P < 0.05) and hydroxyproline (P < 0.01); however, the treatment increased plasma albumin level (P < 0.05). The pathological results also showed that FSSC (1.5 g/kg) suppressed hepatic inflammation, steatosis and necrosis. Data for hepatic fibrosis were expressed as the mean percentage of the total hepatic area in the tissue sections. FSSC (1.5 g/kg) treatment significantly decreased the hepatic fibrosis (12.8 ± 1.2 and 6.4 ± 0.7 in CCl4 and FSSC group, respectively, P < 0.001). RT-PCR analysis showed that FSSC (1.5 g/kg) treatment decreased the expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 2A (P < 0.01), collagen (α1)(I) (3.15 ± 0.05 and 1.52 ± 0.04 in CCl4 and FSSC groups, respectively, P < 0.001), and transforming growth factor-β1 (2.50 ± 0.05 and 1.21 ± 0.04 in CCl4 and FSSC groups, respectively, P < 0.001), apart from increasing the expression of methionine adenosyltransferase 1A (P < 0.05).ConclusionThese results showed that FSSC protects the liver against CCl4 damage in rats.