A Chinese herbal medicine, Gexia-Zhuyu Tang (GZT), prevents dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis through inhibition of hepatic stellate cells proliferation

作者：Chen, Jiun-Yu; Chen, Hsiao-Ling; Cheng, Ju-Chien; Lin, Hung-Jen; Tung, Yu-Tang; Lin, Chia-Fan; Chen, Chuan-Mu^*

来源：Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2012, 142(3): 811-818.

DOI：10.1016/j.jep.2012.06.005

• Gexia-Zhuyu Tang (GZT)
• Gexiazhuyu decoction (GXZYD)
• Herb medicine
• Hepatic fibrosis
• Dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)
• Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs)

Ethnopharmacological evidence: Gexia-Zhuyu Tang (GZT), also called Gexiazhuyu decoction (GXZYD), is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver fibrosis.
Aim of the study: In this study, we have investigated the affects of GZT on a rat model of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis.
Materials and methods: In this study, the protective effects of GZT on DMN-induced liver fibrosis were measured using a rat model. Following 5 weeks of DMN-treatment (8 mg/kg, i.p., given 3 consecutive days each week), oral administration of GZT at 1.8 g/kg daily via oral gavage for 2 weeks beginning at week 13.
Results: Both body and liver weights were significantly decreased. The reductions in body and liver weights corresponded with increasing liver damage severity. Furthermore, GZT-treatment remarkably decreased the levels of serum GOT (glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase) and GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), and the mRNA expression levels of collagen alpha-1(1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) in DMN-induced hepatic fibrosis. In addition, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a major role in various types of liver fibrosis through initial myofibroblast transformation. The proliferation of HSCs was inhibited by GZT. Treatment with GZT also induced HSC apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GZT treatment induced HSC apoptosis by facilitating Ca2+ release from the mitochondria within 6 h. Subsequently, caspases 3 and 12 were elevated by 72 h after treatment.
Conclusions: Our studies indicate that GZT exhibited both hepatoprotective and antifibrogenic effects in DMN-induced hepatic injury. These findings suggest that GZT may be useful in preventing the development of hepatic fibrosis.

• 出版日期2012-8-1
• 单位中国医科大学