摘要：We previously reported that zeaxanthin dipalmitate (ZD), a carotenoid from Lycium chinense fruit, reduces myofibroblast-like cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro . To determine whether ZD might reduce the severity of hepatic fibrosis in an animal model, hepatic fibrosis was induced in rats by bile duct ligation/scission (BDL) for a period of 6 weeks. Treatment of BDL rats with ZD at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the activities of aspartate transaminase ( p <0.05) and alkaline phosphatase ( p <0.001) in serum. Furthermore, collagen deposition was significantly reduced as assessed by the Sirius Red binding assay in BDL rats administered ZD at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight ( p <0.01). In addition, the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and 4-hydroxyproline were reduced when BDL rats received ZD at the dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. These results showed that ZD effectively inhibited hepatic fibrosis in BDL rats, at least in part via its antioxidative activity.
