Protective effect of a marine polyphenol, dieckol against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver damage in mouse

In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of dieckol on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic damages in ICR mice liver was investigated. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups such as saline treated (negative control), CCl4 treated (positive control), CCl4 + dieckol (5 mg/kg mouse) and CCl4 + dieckol (25 mg/kg mouse), respectively. The body weights and survival rates of mice, followed by dieckol treatments were significantly increased compared to the positive control. The level of GOT, GPT and MDA in the serum of the dieckol treated groups were reduced dose dependently than the control, significantly. The antioxidant enzymes including CAT, and GSH-px levels were increased significantly compared to the positive control. However, no significant differences were observed on hepatic histophathological analysis in dieckol treated groups dose dependently. Down-regulation of Bax and up-regulation of Bcl-xl protein expressions were observed in liver tissues of the dieckol administered groups. These results suggested that, dieckol can be developed as a therapeutic agent for liver disease by oxidative stress.

► Protective effect of dieckol from Ecklonia cava was investigated in in vivo. ► The protective effects of dieckol were determined via apoptosis pathway in liver. ► Dieckol possess a protective effect against CCl4-induced liver disease.