Title: Efficacy of Chinese medicine<i>Yi-gan-kang</i>granule in prophylaxis and treatment of liver fibrosis in rats
Abstract: AIM:To investigate the efficacy of a Chinese medicine, Yi-gan-kang granule (granules for benefiting the liver), in prophylaxis and treatment of liver fibrosis in rats and its possible mechanism. METHODS:One hundred and forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven groups (20 each): group 1, blank control group without any interference during the study; group 2, CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis group; group 3, pig serum-induced liver fibrosis group; group 4, prophylaxis group of CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang; group 5, prophylaxis group of pig serum-induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang; group 6, treatment group of CCl 4 -induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang; group 7, treatment group of CCl 4induced liver fibrosis by Yi-gan-kang.At wk 6, 10, 14 and 20 (baseline for CCl 4 or big serum induction), five rats in each group were anesthetized and their livers were removed for pathological studies including immunohistochemical studies for -SMA, type I collagen and in situ hybridization of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) mRNA of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).Anti-lipid peroxidation in isolated mitochondria and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay for proliferation and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferasemedicated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL), flow cytometry and electron microscopy for apoptosis in isolated HSCs were also studied. RESULTS:The mean number of pseudolobuli at wk 10, 14 and 20 in the prophylaxis group was significantly less than that in the control group (P<0.05 or 0.01).The effect of prophylaxis at wk 14 in CCl 4 rats and at wk 10 in pig serum-induced rats was much better than that of treatment group (P<0.01).The thickness (in m) of fibers both in pig serum-induced prophylaxis and in treatment groups at wk 14 and 20 was significantly less than that in control group (P<0.05).The number of fibers both in prophylaxis and in treatment groups from wk 10 or 14 to 20 was significantly less than that in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).The tissue HSC positive rates of type I collagen, -SMA and TIMP-1 mRNA, which represented the active phenotype of HSCs in tissues, remained very high from wk 6 to the end of model making in control group.While in prophylaxis group, they were at a relatively low level.In treatment group, there was a gradual decreasing trend.Time-and dose-dependent effects of anti-lipid peroxidation on isolated mitochondria, cell proliferation and apoptosis in cultured HSCs were also observed during the study. CONCLUSION:Yi-gan-kang can effectively inhibit or inverse the course of liver fibrogenesis in CCl 4 -and pig serum-induced rat models.