A comparative study on the anti-hepatofibrosis mechanism of rhubarb and tetrandrine / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the anti-hepatofibrotic effects of rhubarb and tetrandrine in experimental rat model, and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods The experimental hepatic fibrosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of CCl 4. The rhubarb and tetrandrine were administered through gastric tube respectively. The liver function test was performed by enzyme kinetics and the extracellular matrix (ECM) contents were determined by radioimmunoassay. The pathological changes of liver tissues were detected by HE and VG staining; meanwhile, ultra microstructural changes were observed by electron microscope in randomly selected samples. Results Both rhubarb and tetrandrine could improve the liver function in liver fibrosis, decrease the contents of ECM and reduce the degree of liver fibrosis, with the best results in rats receiving high dosage of rhubarb and low dosage of tetrandrine. Conclusions Rhubarb and tetrandrine could protect hepatocytes, inhibit the ECM synthesis, and thereby could prevent the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in the experimental animal models.