title: Decoction vs extracts-mixed solution: effect of yiqihuoxue formula on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats of the decoction of Yiqihuoxue formula and the solution prepared with the extracts from the individual herbal medicines of the formula.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rat models of NAFLD were established with high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the model group, the decoction group and the solution group, 8 for each group. From the 6th week, drinking water, the decoction and the solution were intragastrically administrated accordingly to the rats for 5 weeks. The pathological changes of the liver tissues were observed with Hematoxylin and eosin staining, triglyceride levels in liver tissues measured, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity measured, and serum gastrin and motilin tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fatty degeneration and vacuole-like changes to various degrees occurred in hepatic cells of the model group. Indicators for fat metabolism, serum ALT activity and hepatic triglyceride level significantly increased, while serum gastrin and motilin levels significantly decreased. Serum ALT activity and the fatty deposition in hepatocytes were significantly reduced. In the meantime, the expressions of gastrin and motilin in the serum rose significantly in the treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both the decoction and the extracts-mixed solution had effect on NAFLD of protecting the liver function and reducing the fatty deposition in liver, which might be achieved by regulating the expression of gastrin and motilin.
authors.affiliation: Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Medical College of Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China. adong@xmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Shaodong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Haihong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Manting
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.forename: Long
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D005755:Gastrins; D014280:Triglycerides; D009037:Motilin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase