Effect of compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the anti-fibrotic effect of a traditional Chinese medicine, compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor on CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its probable molecular mechanisms.


METHODS
Ninety healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: normal group (n=10), treatment group of compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor (n=40) and CCl(4)-induced model group (n=40). The liver fibrosis was induced by CCl(4) subcutaneous injection. Treatment group was administered with compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor (0.5 g/kg) once a day at the same time. Then the activities of several serum fibrosis-associated enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (beta-NAG) and the levels of serum procollagen III (PCIII), collagen IV (CIV), hyaluronic acid (HA) were assayed. The histopathological changes were observed with HE, VG and Masson stain. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, alpha1 (I) mRNA and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in situ.


RESULTS
Compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor significantly reduced serum activities of ALT, AST, beta-NAG and decreased the levels of PCIII, CIV, HA, improved the liver histopathological changes, inhibited the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, alpha (I) mRNA and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger mRNA in rats.


CONCLUSIONS
Compound rhodiola sachalinensis A Bor can intervene in CCl(4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats, in which potential mechanisms may be decreasing the production of TGF-beta1, reducing the production of collagen, preventing the activation of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) and inhibiting the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA, alpha1(I) mRNA and Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger mRNA.
Wu
Xiao-Ling
XL
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, China.
Zeng
Wei-Zheng
WZ
Wang
Pi-Long
PL
Lei
Chun-Tao
CT
Jiang
Ming-De
MD
Chen
Xiao-Bin
XB
Zhang
Yong
Y
Xu
Hui
H
Wang
Zhao
Z
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D015870:Gene Expression; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D029771:Rhodiola; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
D015415:Biomarkers; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019831:Sodium-Calcium Exchanger; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride