Active Components Formulation Developed from Fuzheng Huayu Recipe for Anti-Liver Fibrosis

Objective:To screen the active components from Fuzheng Huayu Recipe(FZHY)and redesign a new recipe composed of the active components,and validate the effect of active components formulation from FZHY against liver fibrosis.Methods:Thirty-two components from FZHY were evaluated for their activities against liver fibrosis respectively,with 6 kinds of cell models in vitro,including oxidative stressed hepatocyte in L-02,hypoxia injured/proliferative hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells in SK-HEP-1 and human hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cells(HHSEC),and activated hepatic stellate cell in LX-2.The comprehensive activity of each component against liver fibrosis was scored according to the role of original herbs in FZHY and cell functions in fibrogenesis.Totally 7 active components were selected and combined with equal proportion to form a novel active components formulation(ACF).The efficacy of ACF on liver fibrosis were evaluated on activation of LX-2 and proliferation of HHSEC in vitro and in liver fibrosis model mice induced by dimethylnitrosamine(DMN).Totally 72 mice were divided into6 groups using a random number table,including normal,high-dose ACF control(20μmol/L×7 components/kg body weight),model,low-,medium-,high-dose ACF groups(5,10,20μmol/L×7 components/kg body weight,respectively).Hematoxylin eosin and Sirius red stainings were used to observe inflammation and fibrosis change of liver tissue;scanning electron microscopy(SEM)and transmission electron microscopy(TEM)were utilized to observe the effect of ACF on ultrastructure of hepatic sinusoids.Results:Fifteen components from FZHY showed higher scores for their activity on against liver fibrosis.Among them,7 components including tanshinoneⅡA,salvianolic acid B,cordycepin,amygdalin,quercetin,protopanaxatriol,and schizandrin B were recombined with equal proportions to form ACF.ACF at 1,2,4μmol/L showed strong inhibitory effects on activation of LX-2 and proliferation of HHSEC in vitro(all P<0.01).Compared with the model group,ACF attenuated liver collagen deposition,improved sinusoidal capillarization in a dose-dependent manner(all P<0.05).Conclusions:ACF exerts a satisfactory effect against experimental liver fibrosis and attenuates sinusoidal capillarization,which warrant a further research and development for herbal components formulation on liver fibrosis.