Experimental research of Ruangan granule for the treatment of liver fibrosis in rats

Abstract

Objective To observe the Ruangan granule on liver fibrosis in rats liver pathology change, the influence of hepatic function and hepatic fibrosis indexes, and to discusses the mechanism of its action to provide the basis for clinical prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis. Methods A total of 105 Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal control group, a model group and a colchicines group, and Dahuang-Zhechong pill group, high-, medium- and low-dose Ruangan granule groups (n=15 in each group). Liver fibrosis was induced by carbon tetrachloride and a high-cholesterol diet. After modeling, the low-, medium- and high-dose Ruangan granule groups were intragastric administrated Ruangan granule mixed suspension 3.6, 7.2, 14.4 g/(kg•d), respectively; Dahuang-Zhechong pill group was administrated with Dahuang-Zhechong pellets mixed suspension of 0.18 g/(kg•d); the colchicine group was intragastric administrated with colchicine mixed suspension of 0.108 mg/(kg•d); and the normal control group and the model group were intragastric administrated with the equal volume of distilled water. All rats were intragastric administrated for 8 weeks. HE staining and Masson trichromatic collagen staining were used to observe the pathological changes of liver While the change of AST, ALT, PH, TP and serum HA, LN, C-Ⅳ, PC Ⅲin blood serum were detected. Results Masson trichromatic collagen staining showed that, the percentage of liver collagen fiber area in rats of the Ruangan granule high-dose group was significantly decreased (7.06 ± 1.18) % compared with model group (23.49 ± 1.34) %, colchicine group (11.35 ± 1.83) %, rhubarb worm pill group (15.27 ± 1.22) %, Ruangan granule medium-dose group (14.52 ± 1.75) %, and low dose group (16.08 ± 1.56) % (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Compared with model group, Ruangan granule high-dose group rats serum AST (75.86 ± 5.23 U/L vs. 157.62 ± 24.04) U/L, the ALT (80.15 ± 5.94 U/L vs. 160.58 ± 26.47) U/L, PH (52.58 ± 4.98 μg/L vs. 98.66 ± 6.75) μg/L significantly reduced, TP (74.19 ± 3.56 g/L vs. 51.73 ± 5.92)g/L increased significantly (P<0.01). Ruangan granule high-dose group rats serum HA (277.22 ± 106.34 ng/ml vs. 553.19 ± 172.38 ng/ml), LN (89.82 ± 5.68 ng/ml vs. 134.25 ± 10.64 ng/ml), C-Ⅳ (47.94 ±8.65 ng/ml vs. 84.18 ± 13.83 ng/ml), PC Ⅲ (16.53 ± 4.88 ng/ml vs. 31.57 ± 5.35 ng/ml) decreased significantly in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion Ruangan granule has obvious effects for resisting liver fibrosis. Key words: Ruangan granule; Liver fibrosis; Experimental study; Rats