The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of the metformin on the formation of hepatic fibrosis in type 2 diabetic rats and discuss its mechanism of liver-protecting activity. After SD rats were fed with high-fat and high-sucrose diet for four weeks, low-dose streptozotocin (STZ) was injected intraperitoneally to make the animal mode of type 2 diabetes. Then, all diabetic rats was fed with the high-fat diet and metformin (ig, 100 mg x kg(-1)) was given orally to metformin group for four months. After the last administration, fasting blood glucose was determined. The livers were removed to calculate the hepatic coefficient and to make HE and Picro acid-Sirius red staining, immunohistochemistry (alpha-SMA and TGFbeta1) and TUNEL staining in order to evaluate the effect of metformin on the hepatic fibrosis. The animal model of type 2 diabetes with hepatic fibrosis was successfully made. Metformin can significantly alleviate the lesions of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis, markedly reduce the expressions of alpha-SMA and TGFbeta1 in liver tissue of type 2 diabetic rats. However, TUNEL staining result suggested that metformin could not reduce apoptosis of hepatocytes. The results suggest that metformin can inhibit the formation of hepatic fibrosis in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the pharmacokinetics profile of fangchinoline and tetrandrine in rats after administration of single compound and mixture with other intergradient in traditional prescription.

METHODA method for determination of fangchinoline and tetrandrine in rat plasma by using HPLC-MS has been developed and validated. The pharmacokinetics of two compounds and two compounds in the effective component group (ECG) of Xiaoxuming decoction were compared.

RESULTCompared with the single dose of compound experiment results, the t(max) of fangchinoline and tetrandrine were longer than those in the single dose of ECG experiment. At the meanwhile the rest parameter showed no significant difference.

CONCLUSIONOther components in the ECG of Xiaoxuming decoction delayed the absorption rate of fangchinoline and tetrandrine, the bioavailability of two compounds were the same as that of the single dose of compound experiment.

Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar