title: Effect of Astragalus complanatus flavonoid on anti-liver fibrosis in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the anti-liver fibrosis effect of Astragalus complanatus flavonoids (ACF) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The liver fibrosis model in rats was established by injecting interperitoneally 0.2 mL/100 g 0.5% dimethylnitrosamine, thrice a week. Meanwhile, the rats were administered ACF (30, 60, 120 mg/kg) or colchicine (0.1 mg/kg) once a day for 1 mo. Serum N-propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and type III procollagen (PIIINP) were measured using ELISA. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in hepatic tissue were evaluated. Matrix metal protease-1 (MMP-1) mRNA expression was assayed by RT-PCR and the protein expression of tissue inhibitor of metal protease-1 (TIMP-1) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the ACF groups, SOD activity increased and MDA content decreased in comparison to the liver fibrosis model group. The serum PINP and PIIINP contents in ACF-2 and -3 group decreased compared to those in model group. In ACF-2 and -3 group, the expression of MMP-1 mRNA increased significantly and the protein expression of TIMP-1 decreased compared to that in model group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The antifibrotic mechanisms of ACF are associated with its influence on lipid peroxidation and collagen synthesis and degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical College of Suzhou University, Suzhou 215007, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhen-Lun
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Wen-Xuan
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ci-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D027883:Astragalus Plant / Q000737:chemistry*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011347:Procollagen / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D024042:Collagen Type I; D024061:Collagen Type III; D005419:Flavonoids; D028321:Plant Preparations; D011347:Procollagen; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1