Protective Effects Of Guava Juice On Cholestatic Liver Injury

Cholestatic liver injury continues to be one of the leading causes of chronic liver diseases. Guava is a fruit that is low in calories and fats but contains antioxidant poly-phenolic and flavonoid compounds which may play a pivotal role in protecting against cholestatic liver damages.Objective:We applied guava in treatment of liver damage by middle bile duct ligation (LMBDL) to study its effects on hepatoprotection.Method:Liver damage was induced in C57BL/6mice by LMBDL surgery, and animals were randomly classified as sham operation group, LMBDL group, and LMBDL with guava treatment group. Plasma and liver samples were collected for assays of biochemistry to detect the protective effects of guavas on cholestatic liver injury.Results:1. Compared with LMBDL group, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin level and biliary epithelia cell (BEC) proliferation were reduced in the guava feeding group (P<0.01).2. The up-regulated level of procollagen1α1, metalloproteinases1and transforming growth factor β1mRNA after LMBDL was significantly restrained by guava treatment (P<0.01).3. Hepatic necrosis and apoptosis level elevated after LMBDL, but was suppressed by guava treatment. Downregulation of p-c-Jun, TNF-a, Fas-L and Bak in guava treatment may be related to necrosis and apoptosis reduction.Conclusion:Guava has protective and beneficial effects on cholestatic liver damages induced by bile duct ligation animal model. These data provide a new perspective for guava pulp in the treatment of cholestatic liver injury.