title: [Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Xiaopi Pill in preventing rats from dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the intervention effects of Xiaopi Pill (XPW), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on the development progress of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver fibrosis model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 0.5% DMN 2 mL/kg thrice a week for 4 weeks. Rats were divided into control group given saline and treatment group given XPW during the 3rd week of DMN injections. Rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, and then liver histological changes, liver function and mRNA expression of the liver fibrosis-associated markers were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) At the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks of DMN injection, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased significantly in rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05); content of total bilirubin (TBil) increased significantly compared with the normal group until the end of the 4th week (P<0.05); compared with the model group after 4 weeks of DMN injection, the serum levels of ALT, AST, ALP and TBil were decreased remarkably in the XPW-treated group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). (2) The hepatic inflammation and collagen deposition in hepatic tissues increased by different degrees in experimental rats. Parts of pathological changes in the rat liver were found at the end of the 4th week, including a complete round structure of false flocculus round, meantime, the hydroxyproline content of hepatic tissue was increased significantly at the end of the 2nd and 4th weeks (P<0.05). Compared with the 4-week model group, the hepatic inflammation, collagen deposition and hydroxyproline content in hepatic tissues were alleviated dramatically (P<0.05). (3) Compared with the normal and 2nd week groups, protein expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was gradually increased, and that of the 4th week group were aggrandized significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA expression of α-SMA, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was gradually increased. Further changes in above-mentioned abnormalities were found in the model rats at the end of the 4th week (P<0.01); while compared to the 4th week group, protein and mRNA levels of α-SMA and mRNA levels of TGF-β1, TIMP-1, and HO-1 were decreased significantly in the XPW group (P<0.01 or P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Progressive DMN-induced liver fibrosis in rats can be suppressed by XPW; the mechanism may be associated with inhibition of the activated hepatic stellate cells.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bing-bing
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Li-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-meng
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jia-mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gao-feng
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yong-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D006909:Hydroxyproline