Experimental Studies on Ruangan Kangxian Prescription in Preventing Rats Liver Fibrosis Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride

[Objective] To investigate the effect of Ruangan Kangxian Prescription (RKP), a prescription mainly composed of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Catechu, Radix Stephaniae Tetrandrae and Polyporus, for rats liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CC14) and to explore its mechanism. [Methods] Rats with liver fibrosis were induced by CC14 and were randomized to RKP group, normal group, Biejia Ruangan Tablet (BRT) group and model group. Serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) , procollagen Ⅲ (PCⅢ ) were detected; hepatic histopathology and immunohistochemical result of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF β1 ) were also examined. [ Results ] Death rate of rats was reduced; serological parameters of hepatic function and liver fibrosis were improved and liver fibrosis showed by immunohistochemical method, HE staining and Masson staining was inhibited in RKP and BRT groups (P 0.05 compared with model group). The difference between RKP group and BRT group was insignificant ( P 0.05). [ Conclusion ] RKP and BRT have the similar effect in preventing CC14-induced liver fibrosis in rats and its mechanism may be related to the counteraction of expression of TGF β1 .