Effects of total extract of astragalus(TEA) on the proliferation and the production of collagen of hepatic stellate cells

Aim To study the effects of total extract of astragalus(TEA) on activating the primary cultured hepatic stellate cells(HSC) and synthesizing collagen. Methods Livers of adult rats were perfused by pronase E and collagenase in situ, HSC and Kupffer cell (KC) were isolated by centrifugation with 18% Nycodenz. The subcultured HSC were induced by Kupffer cell conditioned medium(KCCM) and were incubated with 5～ 80 mg·L -1 TEA for 6 days. The proliferation of the cells was measured by 3H TdR and the production of collagen by 3H Proline.Results TEA (10～ 40 mg·L -1 ) could suppress the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells and TEA(40～ 80 mg·L -1 ) could suppress the production of collagen. Conlusion The suppression of hepatic stellate cell proliferation and the collagen's production by the TEA may be one of the mechanisms for depressing the hepatic fibrosis by the TEA.