Protective effects of total flavonoids of Bidens bipinnata L. against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
Bidens bipinnata L. is well known in China as a traditional Chinese medicine and has been used to treat hepatitis in clinics for many years. In a previous study we found that total flavonoids of Bidens bipinnata L. (TFB) had a protective effect against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced acute liver injury in mice. Now this study was designed to investigate its therapeutic effect against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats and to determine, in part, its mechanism of action. The liver fibrosis model was established by subcutaneous injection of 50% CCl4 twice a week for 18 weeks. TFB (40, 80 and 160 mg kg(-1)) was administered by gastrogavage daily from the 9th week. The results showed that TFB (80 and 160 mg kg(-1)) treatment for 10 weeks significantly reduced the elevated liver index (liver weight/body weight) and spleen index (spleen weight/body weight), elevated levels of serum transaminases (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase), hyaluronic acid, type III procollagen and hepatic hydroxyproline. In addition, TFB markedly inhibited CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation and enhanced the activity of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, TFB (80 and 160 mg kg(-1)) treatment improved the morphologic changes of hepatic fibrosis induced by CCl4 and suppressed nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) protein expression and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 gene expression in the liver of liver fibrosis of rats. In conclusion, TFB was able to ameliorate liver injury and protect rats from CCl4-induced liver fibrosis by suppressing oxidative stress. This process may be related to inhibiting the induction of NF-kappaB on hepatic stellate cell activation and the expression of TGF-beta1.
Yuan
Li-Ping
LP
College of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China 230022.
Chen
Fei-Hu
FH
Ling
Lu
L
Bo
Hu
H
Chen
Zhi-Wu
ZW
Li
Fan
F
Zhong
Ming-Mei
MM
Xia
Li-Juan
LJ
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D031176:Bidens / Q000737:chemistry*; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D024061:Collagen Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000097782:NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase
D000199:Actins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D024061:Collagen Type III; D005419:Flavonoids; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D006909:Hydroxyproline; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D000097782:NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase; C541116:ACTA2 protein, human