Therapeutic effect of Hongbeiyegen on alcohol-induced rat hepatic fibrosis / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the therapeutic effect of Hongbeiyegen [the root of Alchornea trewioides(Benth.) Muell.-Arg.] on alcohol-induced liver fibrosis (AF) in rats and explore its mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In rats with AF, the serum levels of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGFbeta1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) were detected along with examination of the changes in serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), procolagen type III (PC III), collagen type IV (C IV), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (AST) levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, Hongbeiyegen could significantly reduce the levels of TGFbeta1, TIMP-1, HA, LN, PC III, CIV, ALT and AST in rats with AF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Hongbeiyegen can relieve and ameliorate liver fibrosis possibly by inhibiting the expression of TGFbeta1 and TIMP-1.</p>