Effects and mechanism of Bielong ruangan decoction on liver cancer model rats
- VernacularTitle:鳖龙软肝汤对肝癌模型大鼠的影响及作用机制
- Author:
Sihan YIN
1
;
Jing PENG
1
;
Lingwei LUO
1
;
Yi ZHOU
1
;
Li HU
1
Author Information
1. Hepatology Institute，the First Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine，Changsha 410007，China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Bielong ruangan decoction;
liver cancer;
NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway;
inflammatory response
- From:
China Pharmacy
2024;35(18):2219-2224
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To explore the effects and mechanism of Bielong ruangan decoction on liver cancer model rats. METHODS Thirty-two male SD rats were randomly divided into control group， model group， and Bielong ruangan decoction low- dose and high-dose groups [6.84， 27.36 g/（kg·d）， by raw material]， with 8 rats in each group. Except for the control group， other groups were intraperitoneally injected with diethylnitrosamine （DEN） 50 mg/kg （once a week， for 16 consecutive weeks） to induce liver cancer model. At the 8th week of DEN injection， Bielong ruangan decoction low-dose and high-dose groups were orally administered with the corresponding medication， twice a day， until the 16th week. The general condition of rats in each group was observed during the experimental period. After the final administration， the body weight and liver mass were weighed， and the liver indexes were calculated； serum contents of alanine transaminase （ALT） and aspartate transaminase （AST） were determined； the appearance， pathological morphology and degree of fibrosis of liver were observed； Ishak scoring for liver fibrosis was performed； the mRNA and protein expressions of nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing receptor 3 （NLRP3）， caspase-1， gasdermin D （GSDMD）， interleukin-18 （IL-18）， IL-1β in liver tissue were detected. RESULTS Compared with the model group， the general condition of rats （except for the low-dose group）， liver texture， surface nodules and tumors， inflammatory cell infiltration and abnormal cell amount were all improved in Bielong ruangan decoction low-dose and high-dose groups. Liver index （except for low-dose group）， Ishak score （except for low-dose group）， the serum contents of ALT and AST， as well as the mRNA and protein expressions of NLRP3， caspase-1， GSDMD， IL-18 and IL-1β in liver tissue were reduced significantly （P＜0.05）， with some of above indicators in high-dose group being significantly lower than those in low-dose group （P＜0.05）. CONCLUSIONS Bielong ruangan decoction can inhibit the progression of liver cancer in rats and reduce liver damage. Its mechanism of action may be related to the inhibition of the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway and the improvement of inflammatory response.
