Green tea helps protect against hepatic fibrosis

By David Liu and editing by Sheilah Downey

Drinking green tea may help prevent hepatic fibrosis, according to a new study published in the Nov 17, 2009 issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology.

The study showed green tea extract prevented the development of hepatic fibrosis in rat cells with DMN-induced liver fibrosis.

Studies have shown that lipid peroxidation promotes collage production in fibroblasts and hepatic stellate cells and may play an important role in the development of liver fibrosis.

Previous studies have already found that green tea protects the liver from damages induced by carbon tetrachloride, cholestasis and alcohol.

In the current study, Prof. Hong-Yon Cho from Korea University and colleagues wanted to know if green tea has an hepatoprotective effect against damage from dimethylnitrosamine.

They found that green tea inhibited the proliferation of activated hepatic stellate cells, reduced collagen depostion and type 1 collage expression ameliorating hepatic fibrosis.

The researchers concluded that "green tea may protect liver cells and reduce the deposition of collagen fibers in the liver. Green tea provides a safe and effective strategy for improving hepatic fibrosis."