OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of Bushen Rougan Recipe (BSRGR), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on hepatic fibrosis in rats induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN), and to explore its preliminary mechanism. METHODS: A total of 40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10), untreated group (n=15), and BSRGR group (n=15). Except for the rats in normal control group, hepatic fibrosis in rats was induced by peritoneal injection of DMN for 4 weeks. And the rats in the BSRGR group were also intragastrically administered BSRGR within the 4-week course. At the end of the 4-week course, rats were all sacrificed. The liver functions were determined by automatic biochemistry analyzer, including serum total bilirubin (Tbil), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and albumin. Expressions of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and collagen type I mRNA in liver tissue were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: It was found that the serum Tbil level and the activities of AST, ALT were declined in the BSRGR group as compared with those in the untreated group (P<0.01). The serum albumin content in the BSRGR group was increased as compared with that in the untreated group (P<0.01). The expressions of collagen type I and CTGF mRNAs in the untreated group were higher than those in the BSRGR group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: BSRGR can decrease the expressions of collagen type I and CTGF mRNAs in the rats with hepatic fibrosis, which may be one of possible mechanisms in treating hepatic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the therapeutic effect of Bushen Rougan Recipe (BSRGR) on hepatic fibrosis in rats. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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). CONCLUSION: BSRGR can be used to treat hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Liver-Softening Anti-Fibrotic Decoction", a preparation consisted mainly of medicinal qerbs with touifying "Qi", flourishing"Yin", activating blood and eliminating stasis, was given by gavage to Dimethyl nitrosamine (DMN) induced fibrotic rat to assess its effect on ative and inactive liver fibrosis. It was found that this preparation, besides its promoting growth aud protein metabolism activeties, can also lower serum alkaline phosphatase, decrease serum hyaluronate and liver hydroxy proline, with a better curative effect on experimental liver fibrosis in rats than its prophylactic effect

AIM: To explore the treatment of subclinical hepatic encephalopathy(SHE) by traditional Chinese medicine. METHODS: Sixty patients with SHE were randomized into two groups: treatment group with 30 cases treated by Qingkai Granule and control group with another 30 cases treated by lactulose.They were all treated for two weeks.The evoked potentials(Eps) were measured,moreover,number connection test(NCT) and digit symbol test(DST) were conducted. RESULTS: In treatment group,the period for NCT was shorter and the DST also improved apparently;peak latency(PL) and interpeak latency(IPL) of SEP and AEPs were shorter to different degrees,with significant differences among groups. CONCLUSION: Qingkai Granule acts to effectively increase the learning,memory and space cognitive capacities in patients,and improves the nerve electrophysiology in patients.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease has become the most important chronic liver disease in China and the leading cause of abnormal liver biochemical parameters in physical examination. Mitophagy can degrade the mitochondria with impaired function and misfolded protein in the liver to regulate cell death and help to maintain stable lipid metabolism in the liver. The binding of adiponectin secreted by adipose tissue to adiponectin receptor 2 can increase the secretion of autophagy agonists in Kupffer cells, induce hepatocyte mitophagy, promote lipid metabolism, and thus reduce liver inflammation, which provides new thoughts for the research and development of drugs with a marked clinical effect and a clear mechanism of action in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.