Effect of Holotrichia diomphalia larvae on liver fibrosis and hepatotoxicity in rats.

Holotrichia diomphalia larvae, one of the most widely used Korean folk medicinal preparations, have long been used for the treatment of chronic liver cirrhosis. The present study was undertaken to clarify whether extract of Holotrichia diomphalia larvae could prevent acute liver damage and liver fibrosis in rats. A single administration of Holotrichia diomphalia protected rats from acute liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride (200 micro l/kg, i.p.) and beta-D-galactosamine (600mg/kg, i.p.). This was evidenced by the lowered serum aminotransferase (ALT, AST) activities in rats treated with Holotrichia diomphalia. The hepatic cirrhosis was induced by 28 days of bile duct ligation/scission in rats. The four-week treatment with Holotrichia diomphalia reduced the serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase activities, and hydroxyproline content in the liver and improved the histological appearance of the liver sections. The present results led us to conclude that Holotrichia diomphalia larvae can reduce the degree of hepatocellular damage and may become a promising antifibrotic agent for liver fibrosis/cirrhosis.