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. 2011:6:1365-71.
doi: 10.2147/IJN.S19503. Epub 2011 Jul 1.

Nanoscale hepatoprotective herbal decoction attenuates hepatic stellate cell activity and chloroform-induced liver damage in mice

Sherry Huang  1 , Shu-Jen Chang, Miffy Yang, Justin Jin-Ching Chen, Walter H Chang
Affiliations

Nanoscale hepatoprotective herbal decoction attenuates hepatic stellate cell activity and chloroform-induced liver damage in mice

Sherry Huang et al. Int J Nanomedicine. 2011.

Abstract

Background: San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine containing Rhei rhizome, Coptidis rhizome, and Scutellariae radix, is widely used in hepatoprotective therapy. However, preparation of the decoction requires addition of boiling water that causes loss of numerous effective components.

Methods: To improve the bioavailability of the decoction, nanoscale SHXXT was developed. Chloroform-induced liver injury and hepatic stellate cell activity in mice were used to demonstrate the hepatoprotective characteristics of nanoscale SHXXT decoction.

Results: Liver/body weight ratio and serum aspartate and alanine aminotranferase levels were recovered by the nanoscale SHXXT. TIMP-1 gene expression was inhibited and MMP-2 gene expression was accelerated in activated hepatic stellate cells.

Conclusion: Nanoscale SHXXT decoction prepared in room temperature water could have preserved hepatoprotective ability. The results of this study indicate that nanoscale SHXXT could be extracted easily. The simple preparation of this herbal decoction is more convenient and energy-efficient.

Keywords: Chinese herb medicine; San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang; liver fibrosis; nanoparticle.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Size and shape of the nanoscale SHXXT decoction. A) Zeta sizer picture of nanoscale SHXXT showing size distribution in Milli-Q water. B) Field emission scanning electron microscopy picture of nanoscale SHXXT on a solid substrate. Abbreviation: SHXXT, San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effects of chloroform, microscale SHXXT decoction, and nanoscale SHXXT decoction on A) liver-to-body-weight ratio, B) AST level, and C) ALT level. Notes: Results are represented as means ± standard error of the mean. *Significant difference from control (P < 0.05). Abbreviations: SHXXT, San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Liver tissue sections of A) control group, B) chloroform group, C) microscale SHXXT decoction group, and D) nanoscale SHXXT decoction group stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Abbreviation: SHXXT, San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effects of nanoscale SHXXT decoction on A) cell proliferation and viability of hepatic stellate cells as determined by MTT assay. Concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects were evaluated after 48 hours of incubation. Results are represented as means ± standard error of the mean. B) Expression of GAPDH, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 mRNA in hepatic stellate cells. Line 1, control group; line 2, TGF-β1; line 3, TGFβ1 + microscale SHXXT decoction; line 4, TGF-β1 + nanoscale SHXXT decoction. Notes: *Significant difference from control (P < 0.05). Abbreviations: TGF-β1, transforming growth factor-beta1; SHXXT, San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang.
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