Preventive effect of a galactoglucomannan (GGM) from Dendrobium huoshanense on selenium-induced liver injury and fibrosis in rats

This study was carried out to investigate the preventive effects of galactoglucomannan (GGM), a homogeneous polysaccharide from Dendrobium huoshanense, on liver injury and fibrosis induced by sodium selenite. Sprague–Dawley rats injected subcutaneously with sodium selenite at the dosage of 3.28 mg kg−1 b. wt. were set as the model groups. Rats treated with sodium selenite at the dosage of 3.28 mg kg−1 b. wt. and GGM at 50–200 mg kg−1 b. wt. were set as the prevention groups. Biochemical and histological analysis showed that GGM significantly ameliorated selenite-induced liver injury and fibrosis in rats. Oral administration of GGM effectively attenuated the toxicity of selenite to liver tissue, which was judged both by the decreased activities of serum hepatic enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and by liver histopathological examination. Meanwhile, GGM also reduced the levels of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA), elevated the levels of GSH, restored the fluidity of hepatic plasma membrane, and retained the activities of endogenous enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST). The prevention of selenite-induced liver injury and fibrosis by GGM was further supported by the reduced expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and type I collagen. These results suggested that GGM may be developed into a novel antifibrotic agent for the prevention of liver injury and fibrosis.