CAFFEIC ACID PREVENTS LIVER-DAMAGE AND AMELIORATES LIVER FIBROSIS INDUCED BY CCL4 IN THE RAT

It has been postulated that during liver damage there is an arachidoni c acid metabolism deflection toward lipoxygenase products and a simult aneous decrement of the synthesis of cytoprotective prostaglandins. Ac cordingly, we have demonstrated that leukotriene synthesis inhibition protects the liver from acute damage induced by CCl4. Thus, the aim of the present work was to study the effect of caffeic acid (a specific 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) on liver cirrhosis induced by CCl4 administr ation in the rat. Caffeic acid prevented significantly the increment o f serum markers of liver damage, as well as lipid peroxidation and the depletion in glycogen content of the liver induced by chronic CCl4 in toxication. Collagen content increased fivefold in the CCl4-treated ra ts. The group treated with the lipoxygenase inhibitor, in addition to CCl4, showed less collagen content than the group receiving only CCl4 (P less than or equal to .05). Caffeic acid prevented liver damage sig nificantly. The hepatoprotective effect of this compound could be attr ibuted to its ability to inhibit 5-lipoxygenase activity, and thus leu kotriene production. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.