The effect of alpha-pinene on the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in the liver of male rats receiving carbon tetrachloride

Studies have shown that liver damage is linked to apoptosis. Carbon tetrachloride is a powerful toxin that is used to induce liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in animal models. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of alpha-pinene on the expression of apoptosis-related factors Bax and Bcl-2 in the liver of adult male Wistar rats receiving carbon tetrachloride.

Rats were divided into four groups including control, alpha-pinene, carbon tetrachloride, and carbon tetrachloride-alpha-pinene group. Carbon tetrachloride (2 ml/kg of body weight) was injected intraperitoneally twice a week for six consecutive weeks. Alpha-pinene was also administered intraperitoneally (50 mg/kg of body weight per day) for six consecutive weeks. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate Bax and Bcl-2 mRNA levels at the end of the course.

Carbon tetrachloride significantly increased the expression of pro-apoptotic factor Bax (P= 0.019) and significantly decreased anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2 (P= 0.042) in the liver of rats compared to the control group. Alpha-pinene treatment caused a significant decrease in Bax mRNA level (P= 0.001) and a significant increase in Bcl-2 mRNA level (P= 0.025) in the carbon tetrachloride-alpha-pinene group compared to the carbon tetrachloride group. In addition, alpha-pinene prevented the occurrence of apoptotic cells in liver tissue sections of CCl4-injectes animals.

Alpha-pinene can prevent apoptosis caused by carbon tetrachloride in the liver of rats and probably has a hepatoprotective effect.