Therapeutic mechanism of Yīn-Chén-Hāo decoction in hepatic diseases

Table 2 Mechanisms of action of compounds found in Yīn-Chén-Hāo decoction

Compound	Pharmacological activities	Mechanisms of action	Ref.
Chlorogenic acid	Antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidation,	Reversed liver reduced GSH levels and expression of TRX, triggering GSH and TRX antioxidant systems and MAPK signaling cascade	[8]
	free radical scavenging,
	mutation suppression, anti-tumor
Scoparone	Anti-inflammatory, analgesia, antioxidant, immunosuppressive, cholagogue, blood pressure, hypolipidemic, anti-asthmatic	Inhibition of protein tyrosine kinase and release of arachidonic acid metabolites, reduced expression of tissue factor at mRNA level and thrombus generation; enhancement of prostacyclin release, protection against endothelium derived relaxing factor inactivation, and activating guanylate cyclase, relaxed bronchial smooth muscle	[86-89]
Geniposide	Anti-inflammatory, analgesia, cholagogue, laxness, soft tissue injury repair, gastric acid secretion inhibition, amylopsin secretion reduction	Enhancing antioxidative defense system and reducing apoptotic signaling pathways; regulating adipocytokine release and the expression of PPARα expression	[9,90]
Rhein	Antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, diuresis and purgation, improve glycometabolic	Inhibiting cytochrome P450 enzymes in liver microsomes	[91]
Emodin	Antineoplastic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, immunosuppressive, diuresis and purgation	Inhibiting HSC activation	[92]

GSH: Glutathione; TRX: Thioredoxin; MAPK: Mitogen-activated protein kinase; PPARα: Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α; HSC: Hepatic stellate cell.