The protective and therapeutic effects of fucoidan extract from Laminaria species against liver damage induced by CCl 4 in rats was investigated by monitoring the serum level and hepatic m-RNA expression of TGFβ-1, liver and renal markers, as well as oxidative stress and antioxidant biomarker. Thirty six adult male albino rats were divided into 4 equal groups; one was used as a negative control while groups II, III, and IV administrated 0.1 mL/100 g body weight twice a week for 8 weeks with carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ), fucoidan (400 mg/kgbw orally/day), and CCl 4 plus fucoidan, respectively. Blood samples were collected at the end of experiment and sera were separated to evaluate serum levels and the hepatic m-RNA expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF α), interferon gamma (IFN-γ.), interleukin (IL), Il-1β, IL-6 and IL-10, antioxidant markers, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as selective biochemical markers of liver and kidney functions were estimated. The results of this investigation revealed that treatment with fucoidan improved elevated expression of liver TGF β-1, Il-1β, IL-6, TNF α and serum level of malnoaldehyde (MDA), total bilirubin (T. Bil), induced by CCl 4 at 8th week post treatment. In addition to enhancing the antioxidant enzyme activities, GSH, GPx, CAT and SOD. Also, liver trransaminase (ALT, AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), reduced in fucoidan and CCl 4 treated group. These results show that crude fucoidan has potential immunomodulatory, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects against the hepatic damage induced by CCl 4 .
