Integrated Traditional Chinese And Modern Medicine
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1997. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 1997; 3(4): 263-265
Published online Dec 15, 1997. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v3.i4.263
Seropharmalogical effects of Fuzheng Huayu decoction on rat Ito cell morphology and function in culture
Cheng-Hai Liu, Cheng Liu, Ping Liu, Lie-Ming Xu
Cheng-Hai Liu, Ping Liu, Lie-Ming Xu, Cheng-Liu, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
Cheng-Hai Liu, MD and PhD, male, born on 1965-02-18 in Jingmeng City, Hubei Province, graduated from Hubei College of TCM in 1986, graduated from Shanghai University of TCM as PhD in 1996, specialized in hepatology, having 10 papers and 3 books published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Cheng-Hai Liu, MD, PhD, Institute of Liver Diseases, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200032, China
Telephone: +86-21-64036889
Received: October 6, 1996
Revised: December 13, 1996
Accepted: June 28, 1997
Published online: December 15, 1997
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the mechanisms of anti-liver fibrosis actions of Fuzheng Huayu (FZHY) decoction, which acts to strengthen the body’s resistance and promote blood circulation.

METHODS: Ito cells were isolated from rats and cultured. Serum samples were collected from healthy (normal) rats after administration of FZHY decoction and added to the subcultured cells. The effects of FZHY decoction on the Ito cells were investigated by contrast microscopy (to observe cell morphology), [3H]Pro incorporation assay (cell viability), [3H]TdR incorporation and MTT colorimetric assay (cell proliferation), and [3H]Pro incorporation and collagenase digestion (collagen synthesis rate).

RESULTS: The rat sera samples from rats treated with FZHY decoction had no influence on Ito cell morphology, but improved cell viability and markedly inhibited cell proliferation and collagen synthesis. The magnitude of these effects showed dependence on treatment dosage and drug concentration in serum.

CONCLUSION: The seropharmalogical method can be efficiently used to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of anti-fibrotic traditional Chinese herbs and formulae. Inhibition of Ito cell proliferation and collagen synthesis may be two of the major mechanisms underlying the anti-fibrosis actions of the FZHY decoction.

Keywords: Fuzheng Huayu, Liver fibrosis, Ito cell, Collagen synthesis