[Effects of Qushi Huayu Decoction in prevention and treatment of fatty liver in rats based on adiponectin-free fatty acid pathway].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the effects of Qushi Huayu Decoction (QSHYD), a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in prevention and treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats.

METHODS:

Forty Wistar male rats were used to establish the NAFLD model by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) for 4 weeks (twice weekly) along with high-fat and low-protein diet for 2 weeks. After two-week administration, the rats were randomly divided into four groups: untreated group, high-dose QSHYD group, medium-dose QSHYD group and low-dose QSHYD group. Another six rats were used as normal control. After 2-week treatment, the following indexes were detected: (1) liver pathology; (2) contents of serum adiponectin (ADP) and liver triglyceride (TG); (3) concentrations of liver FFA, adiponectin receptor 2 (AdipoR2), malonyl-coenzyme A (malony1-CoA), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase), fatty acid synthase (FAS) and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 (CPT-1).

RESULTS:

Compared with the normal group, there were physiological changes associated with hepatic steatosis and inflammation in liver tissues in the untreated group as observed by oil red O staining and HE staining. The TG, FFA, malony1-CoA, FAS, and ACCase concentrations in liver tissues in the untreated group were elevated significantly. While the contents of ADP in serum and AdipoR2, CPT-1 and AMPK in liver tissues in the untreated group were decreased markedly. The pathological damages in each QSHYD-treated group were significantly less than those in the untreated group. The TG and FFA contents in liver tissues in each QSHYD-treated group were significantly decreased. The FAS, ACCase and malonyl-CoA concentrations in liver tissues of the high QSHYD-treated group were reduced markedly as compared with the untreated group. High- and medium-dose of QSHYD could significantly increase ADP content in serum and AMPK, CPT-1 and AdipoR2 contents in liver tissues.

CONCLUSION:

QSHYD can affect the ADP-FFA pathway by increasing the content of serum ADP, which may be one of its important mechanisms in preventing and treating NAFLD in rats.

• Authors: Hong-Shan Li, Qin Feng, Li-Li Xu, Shao-Dong Chen, Xue-Mei Li, Yi-Yang Hu
• Journal: Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = Journal of Chinese integrative medicine (Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Xue Bao) Vol. 7 Issue 6 Pg. 546-51 (Jun 2009) ISSN: 1672-1977 [Print] China
• PMID: 19583937 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adiponectin
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified
• Receptors, Adiponectin
• adiponectin receptor 2, rat
• qushi huayu
• Carbon Tetrachloride

Topics

• Adiponectin (blood)
• Animals
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (therapeutic use)
• Fatty Acids, Nonesterified (metabolism)
• Fatty Liver (chemically induced, drug therapy, prevention & control)
• Male
• Phytotherapy
• Random Allocation
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Receptors, Adiponectin (metabolism)