Coffee and Caffeine Protect against Liver Injury Induced by Thioacetamide in Male Wistar Rats

Abstract

Coffee intake has been inversely related to the incidence of liver diseases, although there are controversies on whether these beneficial effects on human health are because of caffeine or other specific components in this popular beverage. Thus, this study evaluated the protective effects of coffee or caffeine intake on liver injury induced by repeated thioacetamide (TAA) administration in male Wistar rats. Rats were randomized into five groups: one untreated group (G1) and four groups (G2-G5) treated with the hepatotoxicant TAA (200 mg/kg b.w., i.p.) twice a week for 8 weeks. Concomitantly, rats received tap water (G1 and G2), conventional coffee (G3), decaffeinated coffee (G4) or 0.1% caffeine (G5). After 8 weeks of treatment, rats were killed and blood and liver samples were collected. Conventional and decaffeinated coffee and caffeine intake significantly reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.001) and oxidized glutathione (p < 0.05), fibrosis/inflammation scores (p < 0.001), collagen volume fraction (p < 0.01) and transforming growth factor b-1 (TGF-b1) protein expression (p 0.001) in the liver from TAA-treated groups. In addition, conventional coffee and caffeine intake significantly reduced proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (PCNA) S-phase indexes (p < 0.001), but only conventional coffee reduced cleaved caspase-3 indexes (p < 0.001), active metalloproteinase 2 (p 0.004) and the number of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive preneoplastic lesions (p < 0.05) in the liver from TAA-treated groups. In conclusion, conventional coffee and 0.1% caffeine intake presented better beneficial effects than decaffeinated coffee against liver injury induced by TAA in male Wistar rats.

Caffeineas a Promising Antifbrotic Agent Against Ccl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis

“…This comes into agreement with the results of previous investigators who reported the heptoprotective effect of coffee and caffeine against liver injury induced by thioacetamide in male Wistar rats [23]. In addition, the antifibrotic action of caffeine was evaluated in our study by reducing the hepatic content of hydroxyproline which is an indicator for the deposition of collagen and this result are in harmony with that of previous investigators who reported an experimental evidence for the protective effects of coffee against liver fibrosis in sprague dawley (SD) male rats [24].…”

Hepatoprotective effects of glycyrrhizin and omega-3 fatty acids on Nuclear Factor-kappa B pathway in thioacetamide-induced fibrosis in rats

“…Liver fibrosis was induced according to the method of Esmat et al [23] and Furtado et al [24]. Fourty two male SpragueDawly rats were intraperitoneally (i.p.)…”

“Coffee plus Honey” versus “topical steroid” in the treatment of Chemotherapy-induced Oral Mucositis: a randomised controlled trial

“…The previous scientific information about caffeine shows it is a psychoactive and hypoalgesic substance, it stimulates breathing and dilates the bronchi and has anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory effects which protect liver and other tissues [43–47]. Moreover, it reduces liver induced insulin resistance [48].…”

“…Caffeine improves psychomotor performance and increases self-reported alertness and decreases self-reported weariness and sleepiness. Coffee per se or its specific compounds contain antioxidant properties and have protective effects against oxidative DNA damage, liver lesions (hepatotoxicant induced fibrosis) and tissue damage [47]. Coffee consumption also attenuates liver induced insulin resistance [48].…”