OBJECTIVETo investigate the recipe-based pathogenesis and effects of Xiayuxue Decoction (XD), Yinchenhao Decoction (YcD), Yiguanjian Decoction (YgD) and Huangqi Decoction (HD) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced liver cirrhosis formation in rats on the basis of the recognition of basic pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis in TCM and train of thoughts of detecting the TCM syndrome by recipe.

METHODSModel rats of liver cirrhosis were established by subcutaneous injecting of 100% CCl4 3ml/kg followed by 50% CCl4 olive solution 2ml/kg, twice a week for 12 weeks. They were randomly divided into the model group, the XD treated group, the YcD treated group, the YgD treated group and the HD treated group. Rats in the three treated group received the treatment starting from the 9th week of modeling with the corresponding decoctions. All animals were sacrificed by the end of the 12th week, and their hepatic function, liver pathological changes and hydroxyproline (Hyp) content of hepatic tissue were detected.

RESULTS(1) Typical chronic liver injury and fibrosis became evident in the model rat at the 8th week and cirrhosis came into being at the 12th week. (2) Compared with the rats in the model group, hepatic pathological changes were alleviated significantly, content of Hyp in hepatic tissue was decreased markedly and hepatic function improved remarkably in the XD group and YgD group. The improvement in the XD group was superior to that in the YgD group, while the serum albumin level elevated more significant in the YgD group.

CONCLUSIONThe main pathological changes during CCl4 induced liver cirrhosis formation in rats is the rapid hyperplasia of hepatic fibrous connective tissue and obstruction of collaterals by blood stasis, thus induced reconstruction of the tissue structure, which could be treated with XD effectively, while the severe injury of liver parenchyma in this phase is another pathological change of Gan-yin deficiency syndrome, which could be effectively treated with YgD by its Yin-nourishing action.