title: Nanoscale hepatoprotective herbal decoction attenuates hepatic stellate cell activity and chloroform-induced liver damage in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine containing Rhei rhizome, Coptidis rhizome, and Scutellariae radix, is widely used in hepatoprotective therapy. However, preparation of the decoction requires addition of boiling water that causes loss of numerous effective components.
  
  
  METHODS
  To improve the bioavailability of the decoction, nanoscale SHXXT was developed. Chloroform-induced liver injury and hepatic stellate cell activity in mice were used to demonstrate the hepatoprotective characteristics of nanoscale SHXXT decoction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Liver/body weight ratio and serum aspartate and alanine aminotranferase levels were recovered by the nanoscale SHXXT. TIMP-1 gene expression was inhibited and MMP-2 gene expression was accelerated in activated hepatic stellate cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nanoscale SHXXT decoction prepared in room temperature water could have preserved hepatoprotective ability. The results of this study indicate that nanoscale SHXXT could be extracted easily. The simple preparation of this herbal decoction is more convenient and energy-efficient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shu-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Miffy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Justin Jin-Ching
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002725:Chloroform / Q000009:adverse effects; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D055166:Hepatic Stellate Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010316:Particle Size; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020011:Protective Agents; C501029:San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D002725:Chloroform; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2