Original Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Nov 14, 2014; 20(42): 15703-15714
Published online Nov 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i42.15703
Chunggan extract, a traditional herbal formula, ameliorated alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rat model
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jung-Min Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Dong-Soo Lee, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son
Hyeong-Geug Kim, Jong-Min Han, Jin-Seok Lee, Min-Kyung Choi, Yeon-Hwa Park, Chang-Gue Son, Liver and immunology research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea
Jung-Min Kim, NAR center Inc., Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Oriental Medical Collage of Daejeon University, 22-5 Daehung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea
Dong-Soo Lee, Department of Internal Medicine, Daejeon St. Mary’s Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea
Author contributions: Kim HG and Kim JM contributed equally to this work in the study design, statistical analysis of the data and interpretation of the results; Lee DS provided critical reagents and analytical tools; Choi MK performed fingerprinting analysis; Lee JS and supported mainly animal treatment and cell based experiment; Park YH took a part in the statistical analysis of the data; Han JM drafted the manuscript; Kim HG and Son CG described the manuscript critically and provided vital guidance to the study; all authors approved the submission version of the manuscript.
Supported by Oriental Medicine Research and Development Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea No. HI12C-1920-01001
Correspondence to: Chang-Gue Son, MD, PhD, Professor, Liver and Immunology Research center, Daejeon Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, 22-5 Daehung-dong, Jung-gu, Daejeon 301-724, South Korea. ckson@dju.kr
Telephone: +82-42-2296723 Fax: +82-42-2576398
Received: April 2, 2014
Revised: May 14, 2014
Accepted: June 21, 2014
Published online: November 14, 2014
Processing time: 228 Days and 21.4 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate protective effects of Chunggan extract (CGX), a traditional herbal formula, under 4 wk of alcohol consumption-induced liver injury.

METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were orally administered 30% ethanol daily for 4 wk with or without CGX. The pharmaceutical properties were assessed through liver enzymes, histopathology, fibrogenic cytokines, and alcohol metabolism in hepatic tissues as well as by in vitro experiment using HSC-T6 cells.

RESULTS: Four weeks of alcohol consumption notably increased liver enzymes and malondialdehyde levels in serum and hepatic tissue. CGX not only prevented the collagen deposition determined by histopathology and hydroxyproline content, but also normalized transforming growth factor-beta, platelet-derived growth factor-beta and connective tissue growth factor at the gene expression and protein levels in liver tissue. Moreover, CGX treatment also significantly normalized the abnormal changes in gene expression profiles of extracellular matrix proteins, matrix metalloproteinase and their inhibitors, alcohol metabolism, and inflammatory reactions. In the acetaldehyde-stimulated HSC-T6 cells, CGX considerably inhibited collagen production and normalized fibrogenic cytokines in both gene expression and protein levels.

CONCLUSION: The present study evidenced that CGX has hepatoprotective properties via modulation of fibrogenic cytokines and alcohol metabolism in alcoholic liver injury.

Keywords: Alcohol abuse; Liver injury; Traditional Chinese Medicine; Fibrogenic cytokines; Hepato stellate cell

Core tip: We observed that the protective effect of Chunggan extract (CGX) on alcohol induced rat model of hepatic injury. In this study, 4 wk of alcohol consumptions markedly induced hepatic injury. Treatment with CGX significantly reverses and ameliorates pro-fibrogenic cytokines including transforming growth factor-β, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and connective tissue growth factor. We also revealed the significant effects of alcohol metabolism related molecules by CGX treatment. The pharmacological actions were supported by in vitro assay that acetaldehyde stimulated HSC-T6 cell activation was normalized by CGX. Collectively our results suggest that CGX will be applicable to treat patients with alcoholic liver injury through amelioration of fibrotic changes and alcohol metabolisms.