Therapeutical properties of Mimosa caesalpiniifolia in rat liver intoxicated with cadmium

The Impact of a Polyphenol-Rich Extract from the Berries of Aronia melanocarpa L. on Collagen Metabolism in the Liver: A Study in an In Vivo Model of Human Environmental Exposure to Cadmium

“…In studies in patients with diabetic nephropathy, the administration of vitamin E caused a reduction in the serum concentration of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TNF-α [61], while zinc was shown to decrease the Cd-induced expression of MMP-1 in synoviocytes [62]. De Lima et al [21] noted that a polyphenol-rich extract from Mimosa caesalpiniifolia caused a qualitative reduction of the liver fibrosis in rats treated with Cd by inhibiting the extracellular matrix synthesis. Grape seed (Vitis vinifera) [32] was shown to suppress this metal-induced deposition of collagen and decrease the expression of profibrogenic cytokines, including TGF-β1, in the prostate [32].…”

“…Cd is a well-recognized hepatotoxic agent [ 1 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 28 , 30 , 36 ]. The mechanism of its damaging action on the liver is complex [ 1 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 28 , 30 , 36 ]; however, it is still not fully explained, especially at low intoxication. Until now, little has been known about this xenobiotic’s action on the ECM components in the hepatic tissue, and about the regulation routes responsible for the metabolism of ECM, such as MMPs and TIMPs [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 28 , 36 ].…”

“…Experimental data show that exposure to Cd may disturb collagen metabolism, leading to pathological remodeling of the liver tissue [18][19][20][21]. Cd has been reported to stimulate hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to produce collagen [20,28].…”

“…The mechanism of the injurious action of Cd on the liver is multidirectional, including induction of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, development of inflammatory processes, and mitochondrial damage [ 1 , 9 , 12 , 13 ]. Moreover, it has been recognized that intoxication with this toxic metal may influence the liver extracellular matrix (ECM), which may have serious consequences for the proper functioning of this organ [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

“…Considering our previous findings on the effectiveness of AE in the protection from various unfavorable effects of Cd intoxication, including damage to the liver ( Table S1 ) [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ], as well as the possible mechanisms of the hepatotoxic action of this xenobiotic [ 1 , 9 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ] and the available—however, limited—data showing that polyphenols or products rich in these compounds are capable of ameliorating Cd-caused destruction in the metabolism of collagen in some tissues [ 15 , 18 , 21 , 31 , 32 ], it was reasonable to hypothesize that the beneficial influence of the extract from chokeberries on the hepatic tissue under exposure to this xenobiotic may also be related to its impact on this main component of the ECM. In the present study, in order to verify this hypothesis, the concentration of total collagen, expression of the most abundant types of this protein found in this organ (collagen I and III) at the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein levels, and the concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), as well as their tissue inhibitors—tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2)—were assayed in the livers of rats in the experimental model created by us and used in our previous research [ 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] that reflects human environmental exposure to Cd.…”