Ferulic acid influences hepatic expression pattern of matrix metalloproteinases during alcohol and PUFA induced toxicity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Alcoholic fibrosis and its end stage cirrhosis represent a major health problem worldwide. Liver fibrosis occurs when the rate of matrix synthesis exceeds matrix degradation. The degree of matrix remodeling depends on the ratio of active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The objective of the present work was to study the influence of ferulic acid, a polyphenolic compound, on the expression of MMPs and TIMPs during alcohol and heated polyunsaturated fatty acid (delta PUFA) induced liver toxicity in male albino Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS The levels of collagen, the activity of MMPs, the activity of TIMPs, the expression pattern of MMP were analyzed in liver. RESULTS The matrix metalloproteinase expression was found to be significantly increased in alcohol as well as delta PUFA treated rats and significantly decreased in alcohol + delta PUFA treated rats. The levels of TIMPs and the collagen were significantly increased in alcohol, delta PUFA and alcohol + delta PUFA groups. Administration of ferulic acid significantly decreased the levels of collagen, TIMPs and positively modulated the expression of MMPs. CONCLUSIONS Ferulic acid influences MMPs, TIMPs expression and effectively protects liver against alcohol and DPUFA induced liver fibrosis.