RESUMO
The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is believed to be involved in liver injury and hepatic fibrosis. Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a key feature of liver fibrosis. Salvia miltiorrhiza is a traditional Chinese herb used in the treatment of cardiovascular and liver diseases to resolve stasis. The effects of salvianolic acid B (Sal B), a major component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, on oxidative damage include free radical DPPH scavenging, malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and ROS generation in primary rat hepatocytes and HSCs, and on alpha-SMA, and collagen expression in transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-stimulated HSCs were examined. Results indicated that Sal B scavenged DPPH potently with an IC50 2.2+/-0.2 microg/ml (3.06+/-0.3 microM), inhibited lipid peroxidation and eliminated ROS accumulation in a concentration-dependent manner on primary rat hepatocytes and HSCs. Sal B also reduced alpha-SMA and collagen synthesis and deposition in HSCs, and had no direct cytotoxicity on both hepatocytes and HSCs. Our results suggest that Sal B ameliorated oxidative damage and eliminated ROS accumulation in hepatocytes, and attenuated HSC activation, potentially conferring hepatoprotective and anti-fibrogenic effects.
