Jian-Xing Luo1, Yang Zhang2, Xiao-Yu Hu3, Guo Chen4, Xi-Yun Liu5, Hong-Ming Nie6, Jing-Li Liu7, Da-Chao Wen8. 1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 863095714@qq.com. 2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 416736357@qq.com. 3. Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: xiaoyuhu@aliyun.com. 4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 39 Shierqiao Road, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: chenguo1978@sina.com. 5. Department of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 84613791@qq.com. 6. Department of Hepatology Disease, Shanghai Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of T.C.M., Shanghai 201203, China. Electronic address: beining0630@126.com. 7. Department of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 254979859@qq.com. 8. Department of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan, China. Electronic address: 991271163@qq.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux is a well-known Chinese herb that has been used to treat liver diseases for many years in China. We investigated the effects of aqueous extract from Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux (AEACD) on acute liver failure and identified the possible mechanisms of these effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Wistar rats were used to establish acute liver failure model by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and treated with Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) and AEACD by gavage. Then, the serum biochemical parameters, the pathological scores in the liver tissue, the mRNA expressions of toll- like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and caspase-3, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The liver function was improved, the pathological scores were decreased, the expressions the TLR4, NF-κB, HMGB1, and caspase-3 were inhibited, and the PCNA positive rates were increased by both SNMC and AEACD, but AEACD induced greater effects. CONCLUSIONS: AEACD protected liver function by inhibiting inflammatory reaction, apoptosis and promoting liver tissue regeneration in the acute liver failure rats induced by D-galactosamine.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux is a well-known Chinese herb that has been used to treat liver diseases for many years in China. We investigated the effects of aqueous extract from Aconitum carmichaelii Debeaux (AEACD) on acute liver failure and identified the possible mechanisms of these effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Specific pathogen-free (SPF) male Wistar rats were used to establish acute liver failure model by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and treated with Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (SNMC) and AEACD by gavage. Then, the serum biochemical parameters, the pathological scores in the liver tissue, the mRNA expressions of toll- like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and caspase-3, the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positive rates were analyzed. RESULTS: The liver function was improved, the pathological scores were decreased, the expressions the TLR4, NF-κB, HMGB1, and caspase-3 were inhibited, and the PCNA positive rates were increased by both SNMC and AEACD, but AEACD induced greater effects. CONCLUSIONS:AEACD protected liver function by inhibiting inflammatory reaction, apoptosis and promoting liver tissue regeneration in the acute liver failurerats induced by D-galactosamine.