[Effects of Shengqing Capsules on cholelithiasis-related genes in guinea pigs].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the molecular mechanisms of Shengqing Capsules in treating cholelithiasis.


METHODS
Sixty female guinea pigs were randomized into 3 groups: group I (fed with normal diet), group II (fed with low-protein diet) and group III (fed with low-protein diet and Shengqing Capsules). After six-week feeding, the gallstone formation and the expressions of bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (B-UGT) mRNA and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA were observed.


RESULTS
The proportions of stone-formed in groups I, II and III were 2/14, 9/12 and 4/14, respectively. There were significant differences among the three groups (P<0.05). The expressions of B-UGT and CYP7A1 mRNAs were higher in both group I and group III as compared with those in the group II (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Shengqing Capsules can reduce the rate of stone-formation, which may be due to its interference of metabolism of bilirubin and cholesterol and up-regulation of the expressions of B-UGT and CYP7A1 mRNAs.
Zhu
Pei-Ting
PT
Institute of Chinese Traditional Surgery, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China.
Zhang
Jing-Zhe
JZ
Zhang
Xue-Lin
XL
Yuan
Zuo-Biao
ZB
Zhang
Hong-Ying
HY
Gao
Ju
J
D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D002214:Capsules; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011897:Random Allocation
D002214:Capsules; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002790:Cholesterol 7-alpha-Hydroxylase; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D001663:Bilirubin