title: Herbal formula, Scutellariae radix and Rhei rhizoma attenuate dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis in a rat model.
abstract: The bioactive components extracted from Scutellariae radix and Rhei rhizoma (SR) have been commonly used to treat liver diseases. The aim of this study was to verify the underlying mechanisms and antifibrotic effects of ethanol extract from the herbal combinatorial formula (SRE) in a dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-administered rat model, with functional proteome tools. Our results indicated that the hepatic collagen content and alpha-smooth muscle actin expression were obviously alleviated by treatment with SRE. Comprehensive proteomics revealed global protein changes, and the network analysis implied that SRE application would attenuate oxidative stress and cytoskeleton dysregulation caused by DMN exposure. Next, marked downregulation of antioxidant enzymes mediated by DMN treatment was restored in the presence of SRE, while SRE treatment contributed to decreased MDA content. Moreover, protein carbonylation and DNA adduction induced by oxidative stress finally leading to liver injury were also reduced under SRE administration. These findings demonstrate that SRE could effectively prevent hepatic fibrosis mainly through regulating the redox status, and subsequently modulating the modification of intracellular molecules. Our experiments might help in developing novel therapeutic strategies against oxidation-caused liver diseases.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan [2] Chinese Herbal Medicine Research Team, Healthy Aging Research Center, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tai-Long
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Wen
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yann-Lii
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Leu
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tung-Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yun-Ru
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan [2] Department of Chinese Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyh-Sheng
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: You
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D050050:Protein Carbonylation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012250:Rheum / Q000382:microbiology; D027343:Rhizome / Q000737:chemistry; D031364:Scutellaria baicalensis / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine