Effects of Cigu Xiaozhi Pills on Lipotoxicity and Oxidative Stress in Rats with Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis / 中国中医药信息杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effects of Cigu Xiaozhi Pills on lipotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); To discuss relevant mechanism of action. Methods SD rats were divided into six groups randomlynormal control group,model group,positive medicine group,Cigu Xiaozhi Pills high-,medium-, and low-dose groups. NASH model was established by feeding rats with high fat diet for 12 weeks. At the same time, the model rats were given medicine intervention. At the end of 12 weeks, all the experimental animals were killed and the liver and serum were taken. Serum samples were taken for detection of ALT, AST, TG, TC, T-SOD, LDL-C, MDA, GSH-Px and FFA. Liver tissues were taken for detection of T-SOD, MDA, GSH-Px and FFA. The liver histopathological changes were observed under microscope with HE staining. The ultrastructure of liver cells was observed by transmission electron microscope. The fatty degeneration of liver cells was observed by oil red O staining. Results Liver histopathological examination showed that the liver tissue of model group showed moderate to severe steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. Compared with normal control group, rat liver wet weight, liver index, ALT, AST, TG, TC, LDL-C, MDA and FFA in serum, and FFA and MDA in liver homogenate in model group significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01), while T-SOD and GSH-Px activity in serum and liver homogenate significantly decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with model group, Cigu Xiaozhi Pills high-dose group could significantly decrease the elevation of serum ALT, AST, TG, TC, LDL-C, MDA and FFA (P<0.05, P<0.01), but increase T-SOD and GSH-Px activity in serum and liver tissue (P<0.01). The pathological section showed thatcompared with model group, the hepatic lobule vacuolar degeneration and fatty degeneration were significantly reduced in Cigu Xiaozhi Pills high-, medium- and low-dose groups, and the inflammatory cell infiltration was improved. Conclusion Cigu Xiaozhi Pills can obviously improve liver function and blood lipid of NASH rat model induced by high-fat diet, enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce lipid peroxidation and achieve the purpose of prevention and treatment of NASH.