Lie-Ming Xu

Effect of Fuzheng Huayu formula and its actions against liver fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a common histological process to develop into cirrhosis in various chronic liver diseases including chronic hepatitis and fatty liver. Therefore anti-liver fibrosis is very important strategy to treat chronic liver diseases. Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY), a preparation containing herbs such as Radix Salvia Miltiorrhizae, Cordyceps, Semen Persicae, was formulated on the basis of Chinese medicine theory in treating liver fibrosis and was approved. Pharmacological studies and clinical trials demonstrate that FZHY has a significant effect against liver fibrosis and that many of the pharmacological actions are attributable to the effect. This article reviews the effects and actions of FZHY, in particular the effects observed from clinical trials in treating liver fibrosis caused by chronic hepatitis B and the actions on inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation, protection of hepatocytes and inhibition of hepatic sinusoidal capillarization. This article also reviews the coordinated effects of the constituent herbs of FZHY and the actions of their active compounds such as salvianonic acid B (SA-B) on liver fibrosis.

Antitumor activities of kushen: literature review.

To discover and develop novel natural compounds with therapeutic selectivity or that can preferentially kill cancer cells without significant toxicity to normal cells is an important area in cancer chemotherapy. Kushen, the dried roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton, has a long history of use in traditional Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases and cancer. Kushen alkaloids (KS-As) and kushen flavonoids (KS-Fs) are well-characterized components in kushen. KS-As containing oxymatrine, matrine, and total alkaloids have been developed in China as anticancer drugs. More potent antitumor activities were identified in KS-Fs than in KS-As in vitro and in vivo. KS-Fs may be developed as novel antitumor agents.

Ingredients of Huangqi decoction slow biliary fibrosis progression by inhibiting the activation of the transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway

BackgroundHuangqi decoction was first described in Prescriptions of the Bureau of Taiping Peoples Welfare Pharmacy in Song Dynasty (AD 1078), and it is an effective recipe that is usually used to treat consumptive disease, anorexia, and chronic liver diseases. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) plays a key role in the progression of liver fibrosis, and Huangqi decoction and its ingredients (IHQD) markedly ameliorated hepatic fibrotic lesions induced by ligation of the common bile duct (BDL). However, the mechanism of IHQD on hepatic fibrotic lesions is not yet clear. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the roles of TGFβ1 activation, Smad-signaling pathway, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the pathogenesis of biliary fibrosis progression and the antifibrotic mechanism of IHQD.MethodsA liver fibrosis model was induced by ligation of the common bile duct (BDL) in rats. Sham-operation was performed in control rats. The BDL rats were randomly divided into two groups: the BDL group and the IHQD group. IHQD was administrated intragastrically for 4 weeks. At the end of the fifth week after BDL, animals were sacrificed for sampling of blood serum and liver tissue. The effect of IHQD on the TGFβ1 signaling pathway was evaluated by western blotting and laser confocal microscopy.ResultsDecreased content of hepatic hydroxyproline and improved liver function and histopathology were observed in IHQD rats. Hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and myofibroblasts in the cholestatic liver injury released TGFβ1, and activated TGFβ1 receptors can accelerate liver fibrosis. IHQD markedly inhibited the protein expression of TGFβ1, TGFβ1 receptors, Smad3, and p-ERK1/2 expression with no change of Smad7 expression.ConclusionIHQD exert significant therapeutic effects on BDL-induced fibrosis in rats through inhibition of the activation of TGFβ1-Smad3 and TGFβ1-ERK1/2 signaling pathways.

Seropharmalogical effects of Fuzheng Huayu decoction on rat Ito cell morphology and function in culture

AIM To investigate the mechanisms of anti-liver fibrosis actions of Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) decoction, which acts to strengthen the bodys resistance and promote blood circulation. METHODS Ito cells were isolated from rats and cultured. Serum samples were collected from healthy (normal) rats after administration of FZHY decoction and added to the subcultured cells. The effects of FZHY decoction on the Ito cells were investigated by contrast microscopy (to observe cell morphology), [(3)H]Pro incorporation assay (cell viability), [(3)H]TdR incorporation and MTT colorimetric assay (cell proliferation), and [(3)H]Pro incorporation and collagenase digestion (collagen synthesis rate). RESULTS The rat sera samples from rats treated with FZHY decoction had no influence on Ito cell morphology, but improved cell viability and markedly inhibited cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. The magnitude of these effects showed dependence on treatment dosage and drug concentration in serum. CONCLUSION The seropharmalogical method can be efficiently used to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of anti-fibrotic traditional Chinese herbs and formulae. Inhibition of Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis may be two of the major mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrosis actions of the FZHY decoction.

Effect of amygdalin on proliferation of rat hepatic fat-storing cells and collagen production in vitro

AIM To study the anti-fibrotic mechanism of amygdalin, a component of Semen Persicae, on fat-storing cells (FSC). METHODS Livers of normal adult rats were perfused with Pronas E and collagenase in situ. FSC were isolated by centrifugation with 11% Metrizamide. The subcultured FSC were incubated with 10(-4)-10(-8) mol/L amygdalin for 72 h, and then FSC proliferation and collagen production were assayed, respectively. RESULTS Low doses of amygdalin reduced incorporation of L-[(3)H]-thymidine into FSC and L-[5-(3)H]-proline into secreted collagenase-sensitive proteins and cell layer-associated collagenase-sensitive proteins. the strongest effects were seen for the 10(-8) mol/L dose of amygdalin, which inhibited the proliferation of FSC by 25.0%, and decreased collagen production in medium and cell layer by 24.2% and 26.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION An anti-fibrotic mechanism of amygdalin is to inhibit the proliferation and collagen production of active FSC.

Serum pharmacological effects of Fuzheng Huayu Decoction Open image in new window on Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in rats) on Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis in rats

Objective: To explore mechanism of the effect of Fuzheng Huayu Decoction on Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis.Methods: Biological effects of the drug serum taken from rats fed with Fuzheng Huayu decoction (FZHYD) on cell proliferation and collagen synthesis of Ito cell line were observed. Serum collected from rats at various times (1, 2 or 3 hours) after animals were fed with FZHYD once (It) or twice (2t, 2nd time repeated with the same dose), was incubated with Ito cell.Results: The lt-2h serum in 0. 46 g/kg FZHYD group, it seems to prevent cell proliferation, but had no significant difference. While all 2t drug serum could inhibit cell proliferation. The 2t-lh drug serum had no obvious effects on Ito cell morphology, but could improve cell viability, its effect on cell proliferation was dose and serum concentration dependent. Also the 2t-lh drug serum in all doses could inhibit Ito cells both intracellular and extracellular collagen production, the drug serum of 0.46 g/kg group had inhibitory effect in serum concentration dependent manner and similar effect as colchicine.Conclusion: Inhibition of Ito cells proliferation and collagen synthesis is perhaps one of main mechanism of FZHYD in antifibrotic action.

Effect of Semen Persicae extract combined with cultured Cordyceps on reversing Capillarization of Sinusoids in patients with hepato-cirrhosis

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Semen Persicae combined with cultured Cordyceps on Reversing Capillarization of Sinusoids in patients with hepato-cirrhosis.Methods: Forty-four patients were treated for 3 months, the clinical and pathological effects were observed.Results: Patients were improved clinically. Pathological examination on liver biopsy of 6 patients also showed improvement in of capillarization of sinusoid, which mainly manifested by reduction of enlarged interhepatocellular spaces and collagen fiber in it, increase of lipid droplets within fat-storing cells (FSC), and decrease of proliferation of Kupffer cells.Conclusion: The combined treatment used could reverse the capillarization of sinusoid, and the mechanism might be related with its inhibition on activity and function of FSC.