Allyl isothiocyanate reduces liver fibrosis by regulating Kupffer cell activation in rats

Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a metabolite of the glucosinolate sinigrin, protects the liver of rats injured by carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)). This study evaluated whether AITC reduces hepatic fibrosis in rats repetitively exposed to CCl(4). Serum chemistry showed that AITC (doses of 5 and 50 mg) administered to rats exposed to CCl(4) significantly reduced the levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity that were elevated in CCl(4)-intoxicated rats. The connective tissue in AITC-treated rats was significantly reduced based on Sirius staining. In addition, Kupffer cell activation was significantly reduced in the AITC and CCl(4) co-treated groups. Collectively, this study suggests that AITC mitigates hepatic fibrosis in rats repetitively exposed to CCl(4) with concurrent regulation of Kupffer cell and monocyte activation.