%A Chen Jiming, Wu Xiaojing, Liu Tianfeng, Chen Haicong, Huang Chengshuo %T Effects of silymarin on liver injury and bone metabolism induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice %0 Journal Article %D 2021 %J Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research %R 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.3041 %P 1224-1228 %V 25 %N 8 %U {https://www.cjter.com/CN/abstract/article_16289.shtml} %8 2021-03-18 %X BACKGROUND: Studies have found that silymarin has a regulatory role in multiple genes, which contributes to bone remodeling and prevents bone loss. In a mouse model of fracture healing, silymarin supplementation can improve tibia healing by increasing bone mineral density and serum alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of silymarin on liver injury and bone metabolism induced by carbon tetrachloride in mice.
METHODS: Twenty-four common Kunming mice, 10 weeks old, half male and half female, were randomly divided into three groups according to body mass. In the control group, subcutaneous injection of peanut oil 10 μL/g (double first dose) was given once every 5 days, followed by intragastric administration of 10 mL/kg/d distilled water. In the model group, animal models were made by subcutaneous injection of 40% carbon tetrachloride, followed by the same treatments as described in the control group. In the silymarin group, intragastric administration of silymarin solution 50 mg/kg/d was given after modeling. Treatments in each group lasted for 4 weeks. Each mouse was weighed every other week and was fasted for 12 hours the night before the final treatment. Under anesthesia, the mouse eyeballs were taken and blood sample from each mouse was taken to determine the serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activity; the liver was taken to measure the levels of malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the liver homogenate; the right femur was taken to measure the bone calcium content; and the right tibia was taken for Micro CT detection to detect the changes in bone structure parameters. An approval by the Animal Ethics Committee of Guangdong Medical University was obtained with an approval No. PJ2013011.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, the activity of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in the model group was significantly increased (P < 0.05), glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly reduced (P  < 0.05), bone calcium and tibial bone volume fraction, bone mineral density, and connection density were significantly reduced (P  < 0.05), structural model index and anisotropy degree were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and significant liver damage and decreased bone mass and bone microstructure damage were observed. Compared with the model group, silymarin significantly reduced the activity of alanine aminotransferase (P  < 0.05), and also significantly reduced the structural model index and the degree of anisotropy (P < 0.05), making the trabecular bone structure and trend more consistent. There was a clear network structure, and the bone microstructure remained intact. After the administration of carbon tetrachloride, the mice suffered liver damage with decreased bone mass and damaged bone microstructure, and silymarin administration had a certain preventive effect on liver damage and bone loss caused by carbon tetrachloride in mice.