Protective effect of Xiaochaihu Decoction on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis model mice / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: The protective effect of Xiaochaihu Decoction on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) model mice was studied by constructing a methionine-choline deficiency (MCD) diet-induced NASH model in mice. Methods: C57BL/6 mice, as the research objects, were randomly divided into normal control group, model group, Xiaochaihu Decoction (high, medium and low doses) group, Yishanfu group and Qianggan Capsule group. The NASH model was established by feeding MCD feeds, and model intervention was carried out at the same time by giving different drugs in groups; Changes in body weight, daily food intake, and daily water volume of the mice were recorded during the experiment. HE staining of liver tissue was performed at the end of the experiment to observe pathological changes. and the levels of biochemical indicator of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in serum, and the changes of TC and TG levels in liver tissue were detected, RT-PCR was used to detect the expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol regulatory element binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) in liver tissues. Results: Data such as mouse weight, daily food intake, daily water intake, and organ coefficients indicated that MCD diet-induced model mice showed weight loss, decreased intake, and decreased liver wet weight. The weight, intake and liver coefficient of mice in Xiaochaihu Decoction group were significantly higher than those in the model group; The results of HE staining showed that Xiaochaihu Decoction could significantly reduce the degree of steatosis and inflammation of liver tissue, and improve the morphology and structure of liver cells; The results of serum biochemical indicators showed that Xiaochaihu Decoction significantly reduced the levels of TG, TC, AST, ALT, IL-6, TNF-α and increased the level of HDL-C in NASH model mice; RT-PCR results showed that the gene expression levels of FAS and SREBP-1c in the liver tissue of the model group mice were significantly increased, and the administration of Xiaochaihu Decoction could significantly reduce the gene expression levels of FAS and SREBP-1c. Conclusion: Xiaochaihu Decoction has obvious protective effect on NASH mouse model induced by MCD diet. It may play a lipid-lowering role by regulating the expression of inhibitors of fatty acid synthetase genes (FAS, SREBP-1c), reducing fat accumulation, and inhibiting the expression of inflammatory factors to improve liver tissue damage.