Chunggan extract, a traditional herbal formula, ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rat model.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract (CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury.


METHODS
Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethanol daily for 4 wk with or without CGX. The pharmaceutical properties were assessed through liver enzymes, histopathology, fibrogenic cytokines, and alcohol metabolism in hepatic tissues as well as by in vitro experiment using HSC-T6 cells.


RESULTS
Four weeks of alcohol consumption notably increased liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels in serum and hepatic tissue. CGX not only prevented the collagen deposition determined by histopathology and hydroxyproline content, but also normalized transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factor-beta and connective tissue growth factor at the gene expression and protein levels in liver tissue. Moreover, CGX treatment also significantly normalized the abnormal changes in gene expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinase and their inhibitors, alcohol metabolism, and inflammatory reactions. In the acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, CGX considerably inhibited collagen production and normalized fibrogenic cytokines in both gene expression and protein levels.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study evidenced that CGX has hepatoprotective properties via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines and alcohol metabolism in alcoholic liver injury.
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Hyeong-Geug
HG
Kim
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Jung-Min
JM
Kim
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Jong-Min
JM
Han
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Jin-Seok
JS
Lee
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Min-Kyung
MK
Choi
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Dong-Soo
DS
Lee
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Yeon-Hwa
YH
Park
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea.
Chang-Gue
CG
Son
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006909:Hydroxyproline / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
C526316:CCN2 protein, rat; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D020011:Protective Agents; D020574:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C000589484:chunggan; D055513:Connective Tissue Growth Factor; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D003094:Collagen; D006909:Hydroxyproline
Alcohol abuse; Fibrogenic cytokines; Hepato stellate cell; Liver injury; Traditional Chinese Medicine