Abstract
Aim of the studyBear bile and Coptidis Rhizoma have been used in Chinese medicine with a long tradition in treating heat-diseases. Both bear bile and Coptidis Rhizoma are used to treat liver diseases in clinical practice of Chinese Medicine. Since bears are currently endangered, it raises the question whether the use of bear bile is ethical. To look for substitute for bear bile, the aim of this study is to compare the anti-fibrotic effects of Coptidis Rhizoma and its major component berberine with the actions of bear bile and its major compound tauroursodeoxycholic acid on experimental liver fibrosis in rats.MethodQuality assessment was conducted with high performance liquid chromatography. The experimental liver fibrosis in rats was induced by carbon tetrachloride, alcohol, and bile duct ligation respectively. The biochemical criteria in the blood and tissue samples were measured to evaluate the anti-fibrotic properties and underlying mechanisms of the drugs.ResultsCoptidis Rhizoma Aqueous Extract (CRAE), berberine, and bear bile exerted anti-fibrotic properties on various liver fibrosis models in rats. CRAE and berberine significantly reduced the peroxidative stress in liver through increasing the superoxide dismutase enzyme activity. CRAE and berberine were able to excrete bilirubin products from the liver and protect hepatocytes from cholestatic damage. The effect of CRAE and berberine are comparable to that of bear bile.ConclusionInstead of using bear bile, CRAE and berberine can be potential substitutes in treating liver fibrosis.
Highlights
Bear bile can be obtained from the gall bladder of brown bear (Ursus arctos) and Asiatic black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus)
We aimed to examine the anti-fibrotic effect of Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) and its major component berberine, and compare their pharmacological action with that of bear bile (BB) and its major compound tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA)
Quality assessment of CR aqueous extract (CRAE) and BB To evaluate the quality of CRAE and BB, High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)-DAD was introduced to quantify the major active compound in CRAE and BB
Summary
Bear bile can be obtained from the gall bladder of brown bear (Ursus arctos) and Asiatic black bear (Selenarctos thibetanus). The creature must be either sacrificed, or inserted a metal catheter into its gall bladder extract the bile. In China, there are no legislatures to prohibit the establishment of bear farming to obtain bile. Many reports concluded that bear farming should be abolished due to the inhumane treatment of the creatures. Brown bear and Asiatic black bear are listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I. The use of bear bile in traditional Chinese medicine conflicts with the morals of animal protection [2]. Based on the reasons above, it is necessary for the science community to design systematic, serious and comparative research to get convincing data for substitute for bear bile
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