Protective Effect of ααααα-Mangostin Against Type-I Collagen Formation in Thioacetamide-Induced Cirrhotic Rat
Raksawan Poonkhum PhD*, Ramida Watanapokasin PhD**, Wisuit Pradidarcheep PhD*
Affiliation : * Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand ** Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To elucidate the protective effect of α-mangostin (α-MG) against increment of type-I collagen-positive hepatocytes
in rat cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA).
Material and Method: Rats were separated into 4 groups. The first group was, the control, untreated with TAA. The cirrhotic
rats, the second group, were induced by TAA injection (200 mg/kg), 3 times per week. Rats in the third group received
treatment of TAA (200 mg/kg) alternating with α-MG (100 mg/kg) for every other day. Animals in the last group were treated
only with α-MG (100 mg/kg), 3 times per week. The chemicals used each group were given intraperitoneally for 16 weeks.
The type-I collagen and type-I collagen-positive hepatocytes were explored by using immunohistochemical technique.
Results : In cirrhotic livers type-I collagen was immunopositive in the connective tissue and a large number of hepatocytes.
The number of type I collagen-positive-hepatocytes (414.00 + 25.23) in TAA-induced cirrhosis group increased significantly
when compared to those in the control group (131.40 + 9.63). Interestingly, a significant decrease in the number of type-I
collagen-positive-hepatocytes was observed in TAA-α-MG-prevention group (103.60 + 36.55) and in α-MG-injected group
(54.00 + 5.30) compared to those in the control group and TAA-induced cirrhosis.
Conclusion : 100 mg/kg of α-MG could lower the number of type-I collagen-positive-hepatocytes in TAA-induced cirrhosis.
It is probable that α-MG helps to keep up more blood circulation to the liver cells through dilated sinusoids. This vascular
adaptation enhances high oxygen blood to the hepatocytes which, in turn, reduces the damage of hepatocytes caused by TAA-
derived reactive oxygen species.
Keywords : Type-I collagen, Hepatocytes, α-Mangostin, Thioacetamide, Cirrhosis
