PF2401-SF, standardized fraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza, induces apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells in vitro and in vivo.

Abstract

During the course of our attempts to develop a potential herbal medicine, we had previously prepared PF2401-SF, a standardized fraction of S. miltiorrhiza, and reported its hepatoprotective activity in vitro as well as in vivo. Since apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is a well-accepted anti-fibrotic strategy, in this study, we investigated the direct effect of PF2401-SF on t-HSC/Cl-6 cells in vitro and on CCl₄-induced liver injury in vivo. We evaluated the activation and cleavage of hallmarkers of apoptosis, namely, caspase 3, 8, 9 and PARP. Upregulation of the pro-apoptotic Bax protein and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl2 protein were also analyzed. Furthermore, in the PF2401-SF treated rats, apoptosis induction of activated HSCs was demonstrated by reduced distribution of α-SMA-positive cells and the presence of high number of TUNEL-positive cells in vivo. Our data suggest that PF2401-SF can mediate HSCs apoptosis induction, and may be a potential herbal medicine for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

• Authors: Daya Ram Parajuli, Eun-Jeon Park, Xian-Hua Che, Wen-Yi Jiang, Youn-Chul Kim, Dong Hwan Sohn, Sung Hee Lee
• Journal: Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) (Molecules) Vol. 18 Issue 2 Pg. 2122-34 (Feb 06 2013) ISSN: 1420-3049 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 23389256 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins
• PF2401-SF
• Plant Extracts
• Carbon Tetrachloride

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins (metabolism)
• Carbon Tetrachloride
• Chemical Fractionation
• Colorimetry
• Hepatic Stellate Cells (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Liver
• Male
• Plant Extracts (pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Reference Standards
• Salvia miltiorrhiza (chemistry)