Tungtungmadic Acid Isolated from Salicornia herbacea Suppresses the Progress of Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Mice

Tungtungmadic acid(3-caffeoyl, 4-dihydrocaffeoyl quinic acid: CDCQ) is a new chlorogenic acid derivative isolated from the Salicornia herbacea. The suppressive effects of CDCQ on the progress of acute carbon tetrachloride($CCl_4$)-induced hepatic fibrosis were investigated in mice. CDCQ significantly suppressed $CCl_4$-induced hepatic necrosis and inflammation, as determined by serum enzymatic activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and serum TNF-$\alpha$ levels in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and fibrosis after acute $CCl_4$ treatment were suppressed by the administration of CDCQ. CDCQ also significantly prevented the elevation of hepatic hydroxyproline and collagen content and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin(${\alpha}$-SMA) expression in the liver of $CCl_4$-intoxicated mice. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of CDCQ against the acute $CCl_4$-induced hepatic fibrosis possibly related to its ability to block both hepatic inflammation and the activation of hepatic stellate cells.