EFFECTS OF PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CONCENTRATED YIGAN DECOCTION ON EXPERIMENTAL LIVER FIBROSIS IN RATS

ObjectiveTo study the preventive and therapeutic effects of Concentrated Yigan Decoction on liver fibrosis in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride(CCl 4). MethodsLiver fibrosis in rats was induced by CCl 4 and Concentrated Yigan Decoction was given 2 weeks before the beginning of CCl 4 injection(preventive group)or after model establishment (therapeutic group) respectively. The administration of the decoction lasted for 10 weeks. Liver hydroxyproline (Hyp) level was determined and histopathological changes were observed by light microscopy and electromicroscopy.ResultsIn preventive and therapeutic groups of Concentrated Yigan Decoction, Hyp and degrees of liver fibrosis and fatty degeneration were markedly reduced respectively compared with those of control groups (P 0.05 ).Ultrastructurally,lipid droplets in hepatocytes were markedly decreased, cell organells were restored to normal generally and few collagenous fibers were seen in Disse space in the rats of preventive group.ConclusionConcentrated Yigan Decoction had remarkably preventive and therapeutic effects on liver fibrosis of rats.