Abstract:
Objectives. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) has
been subjected to considerable investigations that
have revealed its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
activities in different conditions. But there is not a previous
investigation about its effect on cholestatic liver
injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect
of CAPE in rat liver against cholestatic liver injury
induced by bile duct ligation.
Methods. Swiss-albino rats were recruited in the
study as follows; Group 1 rats subjected to simple laparotomy
known as the sham group; Group 2 rats subjected
to bile duct ligation (BDL); Group 3 bile duct
ligated rats treated with CAPE. The third group received
CAPE (10 mmol/kg) intraperitoneally daily
throughout 14 d.
Results. Data showed a decrease in g glutamyl
transferase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST),
and alanine aminotransferase levels (ALT) of the
CAPE treated rats, compared with BDL group (P <
0.001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.02, respectively). In the
CAPE treated rats, tissue levels of malondialdehyde
(MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were significantly
lower than that of the BDL group (P < 0.001). The
levels of glutathione (GSH) in CAPE treated rats were
significantly higher than that of BDL group (P <
0.001). In CAPE treated group, the levels of interleukin-
1alpha (IL-1a) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were signifi-
cantly lower than that of BDL group (P < 0.03, P <
0.02, respectively). Administration of CAPE in the
rats with biliary obstruction resulted in inhibition of
necro-inflammation.Conclusion. These results suggest that treatment
of CAPE maintains antioxidant defenses, reduces
oxidative liver injury, cytokine damage, and necroinflammation
in bile duct ligated rats. Thus, CAPE
seems to be a promising agent for the attenuation of
cholestatic liver injury.
