Hepatoprotective effects of Yi Guan Jian, an herbal medicine, in rats with dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis

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• 作者：Hung-Jen Lin^a ; ¹ ; Jiun-Yu Chen^b ; ¹ ; Chia-Fan Lin^a ; Shung-Te Kao^a ; Ju-Chien Cheng^c ; Hsiao-Ling Chen^d ; ^{bellchen@mail.dyu.edu.tw} ; Chuan-Mu Chen^a ; ^b ; ^{chchen1@dragon.nchu.edu.tw}
• 关键词：Yi Guan Jian (YGJ) ; Herb medicine ; Hepatic fibrosis ; Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) ; Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)
• 刊名：Journal of Ethnopharmacology
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：12 April 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：134
• 期：3
• 页码：953-960
• 全文大小：1285 K

文摘

Aims of the study

Yi Guan Jian (YGJ) has long been employed clinically to treat liver fibrosis in traditional Chinese Medicine but the mechanism underlying the regulation has not been clarified in detail. The present investigation was designed to assess the involvement of the fibrosis pathway in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

Materials and methods

Liver fibrosis was induced by DMN injection (10 mg/kg, i.p., given three consecutive days each week) following 4 weeks. YGJ was oral administered (1.8 g/kg daily via gastrogavage for two weeks). Liver sample were subjected to histological and western blot studies. For evaluation of hepatic fibrosis-related factors, collagen α1-I, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) mRNA and protein levels were analyzed.

Results

YGJ remarkably prevented body weight loss and DMN damage in the liver, and it inhibited the elevation of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT). Oral administration of YGJ extract significantly reduced the accumulation of collagen α1-I, TIMP-1, and α-SMA in liver tissues.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings indicate that the YGJ Chinese herb showed hepatoprotective and anti-fibrogenic effects against DMN-induced hepatic injury. Our data suggest that the YGJ may be useful in reversing the development of hepatic fibrosis.