Effects and Mechanisms of Gexia Zhuyu Decoction on Immunological Hepatic Fibrosis in Experimental Rats

Objective: To investigate the mechanisms underlying the prevention effect of Gexia Zhuyu decoction against porcine serum-induced liver fibrosis in rats.Method: Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups as follows: blank control group,Gexia Zhuyu decoction group,Porcine serum group,Porcine serum plus Gexia Zhuyu decoction group.The fibrosis model of rats was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of porcine serum twice weekly for 12 weeks,and simultaneously Gexia Zhuyu decoction administered daily by gavage for 12 weeks.All rats were sacrificed at the end of experiment,and their blood and liver were collected for analysis.The liver histopathology was examined by HE staining.Serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) were detected by biochemicalanalysis.MMP collagenase activity in the liver were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Result: Compared with the porcine serum group,the histopathology of rats given Gexia Zhuyu decoction improved significantly.ALT and AST in serum and MMP collagenase activity in liver were significantly decreased in porcine serum plus Gexia Zhuyu group(P 0.05).Conclusion: Gexia Zhuyu decoction may exert anti-hepatic fibrosis effect in rats via inhibition of hepatic injury and MMP collagenase activity.