Yinhuang granule alleviates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice and its mechanism

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is a formidable global medical challenge, with no effective clinical treatment currently available. Yinhuang granule (YHG) is a proprietary Chinese medicine comprising Scutellariae Radix and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. It is frequently used for upper respiratory tract infections, pharyngitis, as well as acute and chronic tonsillitis.

AIM

To investigate the potential of YHG in alleviating carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

METHODS

To induce a hepatic fibrosis model in mice, this study involved intraperitoneal injections of 2 mL/kg of CCl4 twice a week for 4 wk. Meanwhile, liver fibrosis mice in the low dose of YHG (0.4 g/kg) and high dose of YHG (0.8 g/kg) groups were orally administered YHG once a day for 4 wk. Serum alanine/aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) activity and liver hydroxyproline content were detected. Sirius red and Masson's trichrome staining assay were conducted. Real-time polymerase chain reaction, western-blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were conducted. Liver glutathione content, superoxide dismutase activity level, reactive oxygen species and protein carbonylation amount were detected.

RESULTS

The administration of YHG ameliorated hepatocellular injury in CCl4-treated mice, as reflected by decreased serum ALT/AST activity and improved liver histological evaluation. YHG also attenuated liver fibrosis, evident through reduced liver hydroxyproline content, improvements in Sirius red and Masson's trichrome staining, and lowered serum hyaluronic acid levels. Furthermore, YHG hindered the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and ameliorated oxidative stress injury and inflammation in liver from CCl4-treated mice. YHG prompted the nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and upregulated the expression of Nrf2-dependent downstream antioxidant genes. In addition, YHG promoted mitochondrial biogenesis in liver from CCl4-treated mice, as demonstrated by increased liver adenosine triphosphate content, mitochondrial DNA levels, and the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha and nuclear respiratory factor 1.

CONCLUSION

YHG effectively attenuates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting the activation of HSCs, reducing inflammation, alleviating liver oxidative stress damage through Nrf2 activation, and promoting liver mitochondrial biogenesis.

Quzhi Formula Alleviates Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis by Impairing Hepatocyte Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation via Bip/eIF2α Signaling

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The Quzhi formula, a Chinese medicine compound prescription, relieves nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) symptoms. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the Quzhi formula against NASH.

METHODS

A choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet induced a NASH mouse model and a free fatty acid-induced mouse hepatocyte cell model were used to evaluate the function of Quzhi formula in vivo and in vitro. Network pharmacology and molecular docking technology were performed to uncover the possible protective mechanisms of the Quzhi formula against NASH. Key factors in liver lipid metabolism and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway were evaluated to verify the mechanism.

RESULTS

The positive contribution of the Quzhi formula on NASH was confirmed in vivo and in vitro. Abnormal accumulation of lipid in the liver and inflammatory responses were significantly decreased by the Quzhi formula. Network pharmacological analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that the Quzhi formula protected against NASH by regulating ER stress and inflammatory responses, which was enhanced by further molecular docking analysis. In addition, mechanism exploration showed that Quzhi formula mainly reduced ER stress by downregulating Bip/eIF2α signaling.

CONCLUSIONS

The Quzhi formula protected against NASH by inhibiting lipid accumulation, ER stress, and inflammatory responses, which supports the potential use of Quzhi formula as an alternative treatment for NASH.

Clinical phenomenology of mental disorders caused by Qigong exercise

One hundred and nine patients with mental disorders caused by Qigong psychophysical exercise deviation are studied. These patients were divided into schizophrenic type (47 cases) and neurotic type (62 cases) and were analyzed by standard psychiatric rating scales and improved Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI). The results show that patients with Qigong deviation presented abnormalities in perception, thinking, and behavior of varying degree. The clinical characteristics could not be classified into extent psychiatric disease units. Most of these patients manifested specific physical symptoms of Qigong deviation. The authors suggest that this kind of mild, benign mental disorder associated with the unique culture of our country be studied to contribute to the study of the classification of mental disorders. Qigong triggered disorders usually normalized during short term follow-up.

Influence of group selective reagents in tissues containing alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors

N-ethylmaleimide which is known to react irreversibly with free -SH groups of protein when incubated with rabbit aorta (alpha-adrenoreceptor) or atria (beta-adrenoreceptor) markedly depressed the dose-response curves of norepinephrine isomers in the aorta but not in atria. Dithiothreitol, a reagent which reduces S-S linkages caused a parallel shift of the dose-response curves of both isomers to an equal degree in aorta. However, in atria the reagent drastically and selectively reduced the maximal effects of (+)-norepinephrine and dopamine. This selective alteration of the (+)-isomer by the reagent probably reflects the conformational changes at the beta-adrenoreceptor. The concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide and dithiothreitol required to alter the activity of norepinephrine isomers was higher for atria than for aorta. It may be that alpha-adrenoreceptors are more susceptible than the beta-adrenoreceptors on the -SH group selective reagents. In the highest concentration tested, two other reagents 2,4-dimethoxybenzylamine and N-acetylimidazole, did not influence the activity of the steroisomers on aorta. In the presence of dithiothreitol, the pharmacologic effects of a nonadrenoreceptor stimulant drug, histamine was potentiated on aorta (H1) and not on atria (H2). Results are discussed in the light of similarity and dissimilarity of adrenoreceptors as reflected by the group selective reagents and the stereoisomers.