The flavonoid quercetin inhibits dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver damage in rats

Quercetin, one of the most abundant flavonoids in human diet has been reported to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of quercetin on hepatic injury induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats. Treatment with DMN caused a significant decrease in body and liver weight. Oral administration of quercetin (10 mg kg(-1) daily for 4 weeks) remarkably prevented this DMN-induced loss in body and liver weight and inhibited the elevation of serum alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and bilirubin levels. Quercetin also increased serum albumin and hepatic glutathione levels and reduced the hepatic level of malondialdehyde. Furthermore, DMN-induced elevation of hydroxyproline content was reduced in the quercetin treated rats, the result of which was consistent with a reduction in type I collagen mRNA production and histological analysis of liver tissue stained with Sirius red. A reduction in hepatic stellate cell activation, as assessed by alpha-smooth muscle actin staining, was associated with quercetin treatment as well as a reduction in transforming growth factor-beta1 expression. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that quercetin exhibited in-vivo hepatoprotective and anti-fibrogenic effects against DMN-induced liver injury and suggest that quercetin may be useful in the preventing the development of hepatic fibrosis.