Therapeutic effect and mechanism of traditional Chinese compound decoction of Radix Curcumae, Rhizoma Sparganii, Rhizoma Zedoariae on fibrotic liver in rats / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Object To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of traditional Chinese compound decoction of Radix Curcumae (RC), Rhizoma Sparganii (RS), and Rhizoma Zedoariae (RZ) (DRRR) on liver fibrosis in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4). Methods Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups group A was healthy control (n=8), group B was model rats of liver fibrosis induced by CCl 4 (n=14), group C and D were treated with DRRR after the liver fibrosis in rats induced by CCl 4 four weeks later (n=14). B, C, and D groups were injected subcutaneously with CCl 4; C and D groups were administrated with DRRR 0.6 and 1.2 g/100 g, once per day. After administration of DRRR four weeks all rats were sacrificed, their blood and liver were harvested for further examination. The effect of DRRR was explored by the expressions and sites of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-? 1), Smad3 and Smad7 in liver tissues by immunohistochemical staining. The liver function, serum hyaluronic acid (HA), and liver histopathology were also examined by biochemsitry, RIA, HE, and Van Gieson stainings respectively. Results To compare with model group, in rats that received DRRR, the expressions of TGF-? 1 and Smad3 were significantly decreased, while the expression of Smad7 was obviously increased in the livers (P