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Effect of sinapic acid against dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats

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Abstract

Sinapic acid is a member of the phenylpropanoid family and is abundant in cereals, nuts, oil seeds, and berries. It exhibits a wide range of pharmacological properties. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effects of sinapic acid on dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced chronic liver injury in rats. Sinapic acid remarkably prevented DMN-induced loss of body weight. This was accompanied by a significant increase in levels of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and liver malondialdehyde content. Furthermore, sinapic acid reduced hepatic hydroxyproline content, which correlated with a reduction in the expression of type I collagen mRNA and histological analysis of collagen in liver tissue. Additionally, the expression of hepatic fibrosis-related factors such as α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), were reduced in rats treated with sinapic acid. Sinapic acid exhibited strong scavenging activity. In conclusion, we find that sinapic acid exhibits hepatoprotective and antifibrotic effects against DMN-induced liver injury, most likely due to its antioxidant activities of scavenging radicals, its capacity to suppress TGF-β1 and its ability to attenuate activation of hepatic stellate cells. This suggests that sinapic acid is a potentially useful agent for the protection against liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, Pusan National University, Busan, 609-735, Korea

    Dong-Su Shin, Kung Wook Kim, Hae Young Chung & Jeon-Ok Moon

  2. Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, 602-739, Korea

    Sik Yoon

  3. Animal, Plant, and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection, Agency, Busan, 602-833

    Dong-Su Shin

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  1. Dong-Su Shin
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Correspondence to Jeon-Ok Moon.

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Shin, DS., Kim, K.W., Chung, H.Y. et al. Effect of sinapic acid against dimethylnitrosamine-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats. Arch. Pharm. Res. 36, 608–618 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12272-013-0033-6

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