Therapeutic effect of Bushen Rougan Recipe on hepatic fibrosis in rats

Abstract

To study the therapeutic effect of Bushen Rougan Recipe (BSRGR) on hepatic fibrosis in rats. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10), model group (n=15), and BSRGR-treated group (n=15). Rats in the model and BSRGR-treated groups were administered intraperitoneally with 0.5% dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1), successive 3 days per week for 4 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis. Then rats in the above 2 groups were given normal saline and BSRGR (10 ml.kg(-1).d(-1), ig) for another 4 weeks, respectively. Rats in the 3 groups were all executed at the end of the 8th week. The serum total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (A) and globulin (G) were determined and the serum hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN) and collagen IV (IV-C) were measured. The rat model of liver fibrosis was successfully induced by DMN. It was found that the serum TBIL, AST and ALT and the liver fibrosis marks were declined in BSRGR-treated group as compared with those in the model group (P<0.01). The content of total serum protein and the A/G in BSRGR-treated group were both increased as compared with those in the model group (P<0.05). BSRGR can be used to treat hepatic fibrosis in rats.