Mechanism of the preventive effect of a compound Chinese drug of SanYeXiangChaCai on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic fibrosis

Objective To examine the effects of a compound Chinese medicine of SanYeXiangChaCai (Rabdosia ternifold, Prismatomeris tetrandra, Panaxpseudo-ginseng) on the treatment of hepatic fibrosis, and to explore its mechanisms in rat model. Methods The rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis was used to assess the effect of h SanYeXiangChaCai on the treatment offibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Hepatic hydroxyproline and serum ALT/AST were examined by biochemistry. The expression of α-SMA in liver tissue was examined by immunohistochemistry. The expression of TGF-β1 and CTGF was assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Results Histological and hepatic hydroxyproline examination revealed that SanYeXiangChaCai significantly arrested progression of hepatic fibrosis. SanYeXiangChaCai caused significant amelioration of liver injury (reduced activities of serum ALT and AST) and decreased α-SMA expression. Furthermore, SanYeXiangChaCai markedly reduced both mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 as well as CTGF. Conclusions These results suggest that SanYeXiangChaCai ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrogenesis in rats via inhibition of TGF-β1 and CTGF expression.