Effect of Sanhuangyinchi decoction on liver damage and caspase-3 in rats with acute hepatic failure / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate effect of Sanhuangyinchi decoction (SHYCD) on liver damage and the pro-apoptotic factor caspase-3 in rats with acute hepatic failure.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>SD rats were randomly divided into blank control group, model group, Angongniuhuang group (AGNH) and SHYCD group. Acute hepatic failure was induced in the rats by intraperitoneal injections of D-GaLN and LPS, and the death rate, ALT, TBIL, PT and caspase-3 activity was observed or tested.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At 36 h after the injections, the death rate of the rats was 74.29% (26/35) in the model group, 31.43% (11/35) in AGNH group and 28.57%(10/35) in SHYCD group. The death rate, ALT, TBIL, PT and caspase-3 activity in AGNH and SHYCD groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). SHYCD showed stronger effect than AGNH in depressing TBIL and the activity of caspase-3 (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SHYCD can improve the liver function and inhibit the activity of caspase-3 in rats, which can be the possible mechanism for its therapeutic effect against acute hepatic failure.</p>