Alisma Shugan Decoction attenuates hepatic fibrosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced fibrosis.

Background: Over the years, Alisma Shugan Decoction (ASD), because of its potent anti-inflammation activity, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treatment of many inflammation-associated disorders including those of the heart, blood vessel and brain. Methods: Herein, we examined the probable therapeutic effect of ASD in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury and fibrosis mice models. Results: Our results demonstrate that ASD dose-dependently reduced the fibrosis-related increased collagen deposition secondary to liver tissue exposure to CCl4. Data from our biochemical analyses showed significantly less liver damage biomarkers including ALT, AST and hydroxyproline in the ASD-treated samples, suggesting hepato-protective effect of ASD. Furthermore, we demonstrated that treatment with ASD significantly reversed CCl4-induced elevation of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß and MP-1. Interestingly, NF-κB signalling, a principal regulator of inflammation was markedly suppressed by ASD treatment. In addition, treatment with ASD deregulated stress signalling pathways by suppressing the expression of markers of unfolded protein response, such as ATF6, IRE and GRP78. Conclusion: In conclusion, the present study provides preclinical evidence for the use of ASD as an efficacious therapeutic option in cases of chemical-induced liver damage and/or fibrosis. Further large-cohort validation of these findings is warranted.

[Study on HPLC fingerprint of ethanol extract of Phellinus igniarius].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the HPLC fingerprint of ethanol extract of Phellinus igniarius ( EEPI), and to evaluate its quality. METHODS: Adopted 0.2% phosphoric acid -methanol as mobile phase with a SHISEIDO CAPCELL PAK C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 microm), the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,and the detection wavelength was set at 395 nm. Inoscavin A was used as reference peak to establish common mode of characteristic absorption peaks of EEPI, and its similarity was evaluated by peaks overlap rate calculation,similarity evaluation system and cluster analysis. RESULTS: Under the chromatographic conditions, HPLC fingerprint of EEPI was established, and nine common peaks were selected. The similarities was between 0.652 and 0.995. According to cluster analysis, 10 batches of Phellinus igniarius were divided into three groups. CONCLUSION: This method is simple, accurate and repeatable with good separation. It can provide basis for the comprehensive quality evaluation of Phellinus igniarius.