Protective Role of Grape Seed Proanthocyanidins Against Ccl(4) Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

BACKGROUND: We investigated the effect of grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced acute liver injury. MATERIAL/METHODS: Sixty SPF KM mice were randomly divided into 6 groups: the control group, CCl(4)-model group, bifendate group (DDB group), and low-, moderate-, and high-dose GSP groups. The following parameters were measured: serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT); aspartate aminotransferase (AST); tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; interleukin-6 (IL-6); high-mobility group box (HMGB)-1; body weight; liver, spleen, and thymus indexes; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity; HMGB1 mRNA; malondialdehyde (MDA) content; hepatocyte proliferation; and changes in liver histology. RESULTS: Compared to the CCl(4)-model group, decreases in liver index and increases in thymus index significantly increased SOD and GSH-Px activities and reduced MDA content, and higher hepatocyte proliferative activity was found in all GSP dose groups and the DDB group (all P<0.001). Compared with the CCl(4)-model group, serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels and HMGB 1 mRNA and protein expressions decreased significantly in the high GSP dose group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide strong evidence that administration of GSPs might confer significant protection against CCl(4)-induced acute liver injury in mice.