Effects of Yinchenhao Tang and related decoctions on DMN-induced cirrhosis/fibrosis in rats

[Guest guest]

Effects of Yinchenhao Tang and related decoctions on DMN-induced

cirrhosis/fibrosis in rats

Cheng Liu , Mingyu Sun , Lei Wang , Gaoqiang Wang , Gaofeng Chen , Chenghai

Liu and Ping Liu

2008, 3:1doi:10.1186/1749-8546-3-1

 

Published:31 January 2008

 

Abstract (provisional)

Background

Chinese medicine decoctions such as Yinchenhao Tang (YCHT), Xiayuxue Tang

(XYXT), Huangqi Tang (HQT), Yiguan Jian (YGJ) and Xiaochaihu Tang (XCHT))

were used to treat liver cirrhosis. The present study evaluates the effects

of these decoctions on fibrosis in rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)

 

Methods

DMN solution (0.5%) was injected to rats for three consecutive days per week

for four weeks. At the beginning of week 3, rats were randomly divided into

4-week DMN control group, YCHT, XYXT, HQT, YGJ, XCHT and vehicle groups.

Each group was orally administered with specific decoctions daily for two

weeks. Rats in the vehicle group were orally administered with only water.

Results

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were observed in weeks 2 and 4 in

DMN-intoxicated rats. Compared with normal rats, alanine transaminase (ALT),

aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and

level of total bilirubin acid (TBA) in serum and content of Hydroxyproline

(Hyp) in liver tissue of model group rats rose significantly. However, the

albumin (Alb) level in serum decreased significantly. Compared with the

4-week DMN group, the pathological conditions and functions of the liver in

the YCHT group improved significantly, and the content of Hyp decreased

remarkably: only one rat in this group developed liver cirrhosis and the

ratio of cirrhosis was only 8.3%. On the other hand, the other decoctions

did not show remarkable effects. YCHT inhibited alpha-SMA activation,

including its gene expression into mRNA and protein.

Conclusion

Among the five Chinese medicine decoctions, YCHT exerted the most

significant therapeutic effects on DMN-induced cirrhosis/fibrosis in rats.

 

http://www.cmjournal.org/content/3/1/1