Antifibrotic Effect of Total Flavonoids of Astmgali Radix on Dimethylnitrosamine-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Rats

Objective: To study the effect of total flavonoids of Astmgali Radix (TFA) on liver cirrhosis induced with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats, and the effect on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Methods: Fifty-three Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (10 rats) and a DMN group (43 rats). Rats in the DMN group were given DMN for 4 weeks and divided randomly into a model group (14 rats), a low-dosage TFA group (14 rats) and a high-dosage TFA group (15 rats) in the 3rd week. Rats were given TFA for 4 weeks at the dosage of 15 and 30 mg/kg in the low- and high-TFA groups, respectively. At the end of the experiment blood and liver samples were collected. Serum liver function and liver tissue hydroxyproline content were determined. hematoxylin-eosin (HE), Sirus red and immunohistochemical stainings of collagen I, smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) was conducted in paraffinembedded liver tissue slices. Real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was adopted to determine PPAR gamma, UCP2 and FXR mRNA levels. Western blot was adopted to determine protein levels of collagen I, alpha-SMA, PPAR gamma, UCP2 and FXR. Results: Compared with the model group, TFA increased the ratio of liver/body weight (low-TFA group P < 0.05, high-TFA group P < 0.01), improved liver biochemical indices (P < 0.01 for ALT, AST, GGT in both groups, P < 0.05 for albumin and TBil in the high-TFA group) and reduced liver tissue hydroxproline content (P < 0.01 in both groups) in treatment groups significantly. HE staining showed that TFA alleviated liver pathological changes markedly and Sirus red staining showed that TFA reduced collagen deposition, alleviated formation and extent of liver pseudolobule. Collagen I and alpha-SMA immunohistochemical staining showed that staining area and extent markedly decreased in TFA groups compared with the model group. TFA could increase PPAR gamma, it regulated target UCP2, and FXR levels significantly compared with the model group (in the low-TFA group all P < 0.05, in the high group all P < 0.01). Conclusions: TFA could improve liver function, alleviate liver pathological changes, and reduce collagen deposition and formation of liver pseudolobule in rats with liver cirrhosis. The antifibrotic effect of TFA was through regulating PPAR gamma signal pathway and the interaction with FXR.