title: Hugan Qingzhi Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects in a Rat Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.
abstract: Ethnopharmacological Relevance. The Hugan Qingzhi tablet (HQT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for treating NAFLD (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). The present study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of HQT in rats with NAFLD. Materials and Methods. HQT was administered daily to the NAFLD experimental groups. Biochemical markers, histopathological data, and oxidative stress/antioxidant biomarkers were determined. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Expressions of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and acetylated-nuclear-factor kappaB-p65 (Ac-NF-κB-p65) were performed by western blotting. Results. At high and moderate doses, HQT was highly effective in decreasing serum alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (P < 0.01), hepatic total cholesterol (P < 0.01), triglycerides (P < 0.01), and free fatty acid levels (P < 0.01). Moreover, high and moderate doses of HQT reduced hepatic levels of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α (P < 0.01), IL-1β (P < 0.01), and IL-6 (P < 0.01), enhanced SIRT1 expression, and depressed Ac-NF-κB-p65 expression at protein level. Conclusions. In our NAFLD rat model, HQT exerted substantial anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, possibly involving the regulation of SIRT1 and Ac-NF-κB-p65 expression.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Research and Development, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510282, China.
authors.forename: WaiJiao
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Research and Development, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510282, China ; Department of Pharmacy, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou 341000, China.
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510150, China.
authors.forename: JinJin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Research and Development, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510282, China.
authors.forename: YuFa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Beijiao Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 528311, China.
authors.forename: LiJuan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Research and Development, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510282, China.
authors.forename: XiaoRui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510282, China.
authors.forename: XiaoMin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Research and Development, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, Guangzhou 510282, China.
authors.forename: BenJie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou