The present study aims to investigate the role of milk thistle (Silybum marianum) oil to improve the histological changing, and the deposition of collagen fibers as well as the expression of the α-fetoprotein (AFP) against fibrotic and cirrhotic livers induced experimentally in mice (Mus musculus) by CCl4. One hundred adult male albino mice weighing 25± 3g, with the age of approximately three months were used and divided into six groups; group I (GI): normal mice group received standard diet and free access to water with no treatment for one week (n=10); group ΙΙ (GII): control group, animals orally received a daily dose (1ml/kg/bw/d ) of milk thistle oil for 4 weeks (n=10); fibrotic & cirrhotic groups (GIII & GIV): each animal injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 1:1 (v/v) mixture of CCl4 and olive oil (1ml/kg/bw, i.p) twice weekly for 4 weeks (n=20) to induce fibrosis, and for 6 weeks (n=20) to induce cirrhosis. Groups (GV&GVI): milk thistle-treated animals, either fibrotic or cirrhotic mice groups, each mouse administered orally with milk thistle oil daily at a dose 1ml/kg/bw/d for 4 weeks. Histological results of the liver sections (by using H&E) of normal and control mice groups (GI&GII) showed normal hepatic structure with a normal distribution of delicate collagen fibers (by using Masson's trichrome dye) around the central vein and portal area. Livers of CCl4-intoxicated fibrotic and cirrhotic liver sections of mice (GIII and GIV) revealed many changes with loss of the hepatic architecture, and a marked dense collagen deposition around the central veins and in necrotic areas as well as the appearance of intense fibrous tissues run in septa between the nodules and hepatic cells. The administration of fibrotic and cirrhotic groups with milk thistle oil (GV and GVI) revealed a marked recovery of most hepatocytes to ordinary radiating form and regained approximately evidently familiar hepatic architecture, normal homogenous cytoplasm with intact nuclei, and an obvious reduction in the deposition of collagen fibers. IHC resuls expressed a lack of AFP immunostain in the hepatocytic cytoplasm of the mice liver sections (GI &GII). The fibrotic and cirrhotic liver sections expressed intense AFP immunoreactivity to the hepatocytes of most liver tissues, while after the administration of milk thistle oil to these mice groups, an improvement in the liver AFP was expressed represented by a deficiency in AFP immunostain. Biochemical assays recorded a highly significant increase of ALT, AST, ALP, and α-fetoprotein values in the fibrotic and cirrhotic groups compared to the control one. A significant decrease in these measurements was recorded after the administration of milk thistle to both fibrotic and cirrhotic groups. In conclusion, milk thistle oil has a beneficial role in the amelioration of mice's liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. So, patients with liver diseases should be taken milk thistle to improve the liver structure and function.
Key words: Liver, Fibrosis, Cirrhosis, Milk thistle (Silybum marianum), Histology, collagen fibers, IHC, AFP, ALT, AST, ALP, mice.
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