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Stephania tetrandra prevents and regresses liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats
Author(s) -
Chor Josette S Y,
Yu Jun,
Chan Ka Kui,
Go Yin Yin,
Sung Joseph J Y
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2008.05720.x
Subject(s) - medicine , carbon tetrachloride , salvia miltiorrhiza , hepatic fibrosis , tunel assay , fibrosis , hepatic stellate cell , apoptosis , ccl4 , in vivo , pharmacology , pathology , traditional medicine , gastroenterology , immunohistochemistry , biochemistry , chemistry , traditional chinese medicine , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , alternative medicine , organic chemistry
Background and Aim: There is currently no safe and effective treatment for liver fibrosis. We have previously shown that Stephania tetrandra ( ST ) and Salvia miltiorrhiza ( SM ) suppress cell proliferation and enhance apoptosis of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) in vitro . In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti‐fibrotic effect of these two herbs in vivo . Methods: Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) injection in rats for 5 weeks. SM , ST or SM + ST was gavaged on day 1 of CCl 4 administration to study the preventive effects of herbs on hepatic fibrosis. In a separate study designed to assess possible fibrosis regression, rats were randomly allocated to be treated with SM, ST or SM + ST when fibrosis was established. Liver injury and collagen content were assessed. HSC activation and apoptosis were determined. Results: As compared with the CCL 4 ‐only rats, serum ALT was significantly lower in CCl 4 ‐treated rats that received either SM ( P < 0.01) or ST ( P < 0.01). Administration of ST significantly prevented ( P < 0.01) or reversed the hepatic fibrosis ( P < 0.01) induced by CCL 4 . Moreover, rats treated with ST had reduced protein expression of α‐SMA both in prevention ( P < 0.05) and in regression ( P < 0.01) experiments. The double‐color staining of α‐SMA and TUNEL showed that ST increased HSC apoptosis. However, co‐treatment of SM + ST did not increase the antifibrotic effect of ST . Conclusions: Stephania tetrandra safely and effectively prevents and reverses hepatic fibrosis through activating HSC apoptosis in rats.