Anti-fibrosis and anti-cirrhosis effects of Rhizoma paridis saponins on diethylnitrosamine induced rats

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis as a traditional Chinese medicine has been used in the treatment of liver disease for thousands of years. Rhizoma paridis saponins (RPS), as the main active components of Paris polyphylla, have been used to treat liver injury. Anti-cirrhosis effect of Rhizoma paridis saponins (RPS) has not been known.

Materials and methods: We analyzed diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced metabonomic changes in multiple biological matrices (plasma and urine) of rats by using (1)H-NMR spectroscopy together with clinical biochemistry assessments, oxidative stress test and DNA fragmentation assay.

Results: Mechanisms of RPS that participated in the inhibition of the fibrotic process included anti-oxidant, anti-apoptosis, and metabolic disturbance such as decreasing lipid oxidation, regulation of TCA cycle, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolisms in DEN-induced liver tissues.

Conclusions: Integrated NMR analysis of serum and urine samples, together with traditional clinical biochemical assays provided a holistic method for elucidating mechanisms of potential anti-fibrotic agent, RPS.

Keywords: ALT; AST; DEN; Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis; MDA; Metabonomics; Oxidative stress; RPS; Rhizoma paridis saponins; SODs; alanine transaminase; aspartate aminotransferase; diethylnitrosamine; malondialdehyde; superoxide dismutases.