Evaluation of hepatocellular function influenced by Chinese drug Dahuang Zhechong pill / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the influence of Chinese drug Dahuang Zhechong pill on the hepatocellular function.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Thirty-seven patients with hepatocirrhosis and twelve normal controls were performed the hepatobiliary scintgraphy with Tc-99m labeled ethylene hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (99 mTc-EHIDA), and the biochemical examination of hepatic function. There was 19 cases repeated the imaging after 6 months treated with chineses drug. By the three compartmental model configurations, the function parameters of hepatocellular extraction and excretion were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In the hepatocirrhosis groups, the hepatocellular uptake peak time and mean residence index were higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.01). Compared to normal controls, the uptake index, uptake speed index and descendent speed index were decreased markedly (P < 0.05). After treatment for 6 months with Chinese drug, the level of serum transaminase, globulin and bilirubin was lower than that before treatment. The uptake peak time and mean residence index decreased notably after treatment for 6 months (P < 0.01), and the uptake index increased, (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chinese drug Dahuang Zhechong pill may improve the hepatocellular function and liver function status in patients with hepatocirrhosis.</p>

Effects of dahuang zhechong pill on expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase in rats' hepatic stellate cells / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Dahuang Zhechong Pill (DZP) on the gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in rats' hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) that secreted into the culture base.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HSC were isolated from the liver of normal rats and incubated with DZP-contained drug serum. The expression of MMP-1 in the HSC was detected by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The activity of MMP-2 was examined by zymography.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>DZP-contained drug serum could obviously promote the gene expression of MMP-1 in HSC. In the meantime, it could obviously increase the content and activity of MMP-2 synthesized by HSC (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The anti-fibrosis action of DZP was correlated to the promotion of HSC's gene expression of MMP-1 and increasing of the contents and activity of MMP-2.</p>