Methyl Helicterate Inhibits Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation Through Modulation of Apoptosis and Autophagy.

Background/aims: Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the major source of extracellular matrix (ECM). Therefore inhibiting HSC activation is considered as an effective strategy to inhibit the process of liver fibrosis. This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of methyl helicterate (MH) isolated from Helicteres angustifolia on the activation of HSCs.

[Protective effect of asiatic acid from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats].

To study the protective effect and the mechanism of asiatic acid (AA) from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the AA control group (8 mg · kg(-1) AA), the model group (5.0-9.

[Protective effect of isoorientin on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats].

Objective: To observe the effect and mechanism of isoorientin from Gypsophila elegans on alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Method: ninety healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the model control group, the colchicines group (positive control, 1.0 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)), the high, middle and low-dose isoorientin groups (20, 50, 100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)).

Protective effect of isoorientin-2″-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl isolated from Gypsophila elegans on alcohol induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.

Alcohol abuse is one of the major causes of liver fibrosis, which shows a sharply increasing trend worldwide, yet effective therapeutic options for advanced alcohol fibrosis are limited. Recently we investigated the effect of anti-fibrosis by isoorientin-2″-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl (IOA) isolated from Gypsophila elegans. During the experiment, the model group received alcohol only, and treatment groups received the corresponding drugs plus alcohol respectively, while the normal control group received an equal volume of saline.

Hepatoprotective effects of total saponins isolated from Taraphochlamys affinis against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats.

In this study, rats were orally treated with the total saponins of Taraphochlamys affinis (TSTA) daily with administration of CCl4 twice a week for 8 weeks. Compared to the normal control, CCl4 induced liver damage significantly increased the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum and decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and glutathione reductase (GSH-Rd) in liver. Meanwhile content of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), which was oxidative stress marker, was increased.

[Pharmacognostic studies on mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius].

Objective: In order to prove a basis for rational exploitation and utilization of the herb, the charaeteristic feature for Acanthus iliciflius was studied.

Method: The botanical and pharmacognostic features of the collected original plant were stadied.

Result: A.