title: A Herbal Formula, CGXII, Exerts Antihepatofibrotic Effect in Dimethylnitrosamine-Induced SD Rat Model.
abstract: We aimed to evaluate the antihepatofibrotic effects of CGXII, an aqueous extract which is composed of A. iwayomogi, A. xanthioides, and S. miltiorrhiza, against dimethylnitrosamine- (DMN-) induced hepatofibrosis. Male Sprague Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected with 10 mg/kg of DMN for 4 weeks (three consecutive days weekly). Rats were orally given distilled water, CGXII (50 or 100 mg/kg), or dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (50 mg/kg) daily. DMN injection caused substantial alteration of total body weight and liver and spleen mass, whereas they were notably normalized by CGXII. CGXII treatment also markedly attenuated the elevation of serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, hepatic lipid peroxidation, and protein carbonyl contents. Collagen accumulation in hepatic tissue evidenced by histopathological analysis and quantitative assessment of hepatic hydroxyproline was ameliorated by CGXII. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed decreased α-smooth muscle actin supporting the antihepatofibrotic effect of CGXII. The profibrogenic cytokines transforming growth factor-β, platelet-derived growth factor-β, and connective tissue growth factor were increased by DMN injection. Administration of CGXII normalized the protein and gene expression levels of these cytokines. Our findings suggest that CGXII lowers the levels of profibrogenic cytokines and thereby exerts antifibrotic effects.
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo-Seon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong-Geug
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: TKM-Based Herbal Drug Research Group, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 34054, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Won
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Seok
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hwi-Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Im
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, 64 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34943, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Soo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Liver and Immunology Research Center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Son