title: The inhibitory effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum on MCP-1 and type I procollagen expression in rat hepatic stellate cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a popular folk medicine that has been used for treatment of hepatitis in Asia. Our previous study demonstrates that Gynostemma pentaphyllum n-butanol extract inhibits the onset and improves the recovery of CCl(4)-induced liver fibrogenesis in rats and inhibits PDGF-induced rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) proliferation. In this study, the effect of Gynostemma pentaphyllum extract on cytokines and type I procollagen expression was analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat HSCs were treated with PDGF, Gynostemma pentaphyllum n-butanol extract, RP-18-Gyp fraction, rapamycin or vehicle. Rat cytokine antibody array chip or ELISA kit was used for cytokines detection. Intracellular protein expression was detected by Western blotting, mRNA expression was analyzed by RT-PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RP-18-Gyp fraction is the more purified gypenosides fraction from Gynostemma pentaphyllum n-butanol extract. In cell proliferation, the inhibitory effect of 200 microg/ml RP-18-Gyp fraction is similar to 500 microg/ml Gynostemma pentaphyllum n-butanol extract. Furthermore, both of them have the ability of decreasing monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA expression and protein release and inhibiting type I procollagen protein expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both of Gynostemma pentaphyllum n-butanol extract and its more purified RP-18-Gyp fraction have the biological activities in the inhibition of cell proliferation, MCP-1 release and type I procollagen expression in rat HSCs. These data could provide the evidence to support for the traditional use of Gynostemma pentaphyllum in hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chinese Medicine, Chiayi Christian Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qwa-Fun
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lih-Geeng
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jia-Jen
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shee
authors.forename: Jung-Chou
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ke-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Hsin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jyan-Gwo J
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Yi-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D029774:Gynostemma / Q000737:chemistry; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: C491766:Ccl2 protein, rat; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D024042:Collagen Type I; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; C474918:gypenoside