Therapeutic Mechanism of Xiaochaihu Granule on Acute Liver Injury Induced by Thioacetamide in Rats Through Nrf2 Pathway / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of Xiaochaihu granule on acute liver injury (ALI) induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in rats, and to explore the role of transcription factor (NF) -E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) in the pathway of oxidative damage. Method: SD rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, Xiaochaihu granule low, middle and high dose groups (1, 2, 4 g·kg-1). 250 mg·kg-1 TAA was given to the rats by ip. administration for 2 days to prepare the liver injury model, and from the 3rd day, same amount of double distilled water or different doses of Xiaochaihu granule was given to corresponding groups by ig. administration for 2 weeks. 24 hours after the last administration, liver tissues were taken and stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were measured by colorimetry. The activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissues were measured by colorimetry. Real-time PCR was used to detect Nrf2 pathway related mRNA expression. Result:As compared with control group, ALT, AST and MDA in model group were significantly increased,while T-SOD was significantly decreased (PPPPPPPConclusion:Xiaochaihu granule may play a therapeutic role in TAA induced ALI in rats by up-regulating the expression of downstream molecules in Nrf2 signaling pathway.