Beta-carotene attenuates experimentally induced liver cirrhosis in rats

Objective: To study whether retinolpalmitate, beta-carotene or lycopene cou ld prevent liver cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide in rats. Methods: In the control group liver cirrhosis was induced in male Wistar ra ts by intraperitoneal injections of TAA 200 mg/kg for 12 weeks. The three s tudy groups received in addition to IAA either beta-carotene, lycopene or r etinolpalmitate by gavage through an orogastric tube. Histopathological ana lysis and determination of the hydroxyproline contents of the livers were p erformed at the end of the protocol. Results: Rats treated with beta-carotene and TAA had lower histopathologic scores and reduced levels of hepatic hydroxyproline (P=0.02) than those tre ated by TAA alone. A trend of decreased fibrosis was observed in the rats t reated with lycopene and TAA although this lacked statistical significance. Conclusions: Beta-carotene attenuated liver cirrhosis induced by TAA in rat s. The mechanism may be related to effects on hepatic stellate cells or to scavenging of free radicals by beta-carotene. Retinolpalmitate and lycopen had no significant beneficial effect.