Effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill on immunological liver fibrosis in rats and its mechanism / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the inhibitory effect of Shexiang Baoxin Pill (SBP) on the immunological liver fibrosis and its possible mechanisms. Methods: Male rats with immunological liver fibrosis were equally divided into control, model, and low-and high-dose (22.5 and 45 mg/kg) SBP groups. Rats in SBP groups were ig given SBP once daily for consecutive 10 weeks. On the week 10, all rats were sacrificed and a part of liver tissues were preserved. The changes of hepatic histopathology were observed using HE staining. Gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was observed using RT-PCR. The protein expression of VEGF and α-SMA was detected using immunohistochemistry, and MDA content, SOD activity, and the area of collagen fiber in the liver before and after treatments were measured. Results: Compared to the model control, low-and high-dose SBP groups could relieve the degree of hepatic fibrosis (P < 0.01, 0.05), reduce the expression of hepatic VEGF mRNA, VEGF, α-SMA (P < 0.01), obviously reduce MDA content and the area of collagen fiber (P < 0.05, 0.01), and increase the activity of SOD (P < 0.05, 0.01). All the effects were dose-dependent. Conclusion: SBP may decrease the expression of hepatic VEGF and reduce the level of oxidative stress. The inhibitory effect may depend on its dose, which may be based on inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells.