Effects of novel Fufang Biejia Ruangan Tablets with sheep placenta as substitute for Hominis Placenta on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis

Objective:Fufang Biejia Ruangan Tablet(FBRT) is widely used for the treatment of liver fibrosis.However,Hominis Placenta(HP),as an important adjuvant of FBRT,has been restricted for medicinal using due to the limited availability,ethical controversy and safety issues.The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of novel FBRT(N-FBRT) with sheep placenta(SP) as substitute for HP on liver fibrosis and explore its possible mechanisms.Different dosages of SP in N-FBRT were also evaluated.Methods:Rats were subcutaneously injected with CCl_(4)to induce liver fibrosis and then treated with NFBRT and FBRT.The anti-hepatic fibrosis effect was determined based on biomarkers analysis of liver function and hepatic fibrosis,and the liver pathology was visualized by H&E staining and Masson staining.The oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines were also detected.Immunohistochemical staining of a-SMA,real time PCR and Western blotting were performed to evaluate hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)activation and TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.Results:N-FBRT and FBRT could ameliorate CCl_(4)-induced liver fibrosis and improve liver function,as evidenced by lowering serum biomarkers levels of liver function and hepatic fibrosis,and decreasing hepatic Hyp content and collagen deposition,and improving the hepatic morphology and architecture changes.Moreover,the anti-liver fibrosis effect was better when the dosage of SP used in N-FBRT was 1/2 of HP in FBRT.Administration of N-FBRT markedly alleviated oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines,and inhibited a-SMA expression.Furthermore,the mRNA expression of Col Ⅰ,Col Ⅲ,a-SMA and TGF-β1,and proteins expression of a-SMA,TGF-β1,Smad2/3 and p-Smad2/3 were significantly down-regulated by N-FBRT treatment.Conclusion:SP can be used as substitute for HP to prepare N-FBRT for the treatment of liver fibrosis and the anti-liver fibrosis effect of N-FBRT is achieved by eliminating oxidative stress and inflammation,and inhibiting HSCs activation and ECM production by blocking TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.

Effects of Biejia Ruangan Tablet(复方鳖甲软肝片)-Containing Serum on Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 Expression in Cultured Renal Interstitial Fibroblasts

Objective： To investigate the effects of Biejia Ruangan Tablet （复方鳖甲软肝片, BRT）- containing serum on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase （MMP-9） and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase （TIMP-1） in cultured renal interstitial fibroblasts. Methods： Different BRT-containing sera were prepared by gastric gavages to rats with the high-dose （7 g/kg）, mid-dose （3.5 g/kg）, and low-dose （1.75 g/kg） BRT respectively. The expression of extracellular matrix in NRK-49F cells was induced by treatment with human transforming growth factor-β1 （recombined human TGF-β 1）, and BRT-containing serum. Western blotting and Northern blotting were used to measure type I and III procollagen, MMP-9, and TIMP-1. Results： The high dose BRT-containing serum could decrease the type Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen gene expression which boosted by TGF- 13 1, at the same time cut down TIMP-1 protein and gene expression which increased by TGF- β1 （P〈0.05）. Treatment of cells with recombined human TGF-β 1 had no significant effect on MMP-9 expression and BRT- containing serum also had no effect on MMP-9 expression. Conclusions： High dose BRT has anti-fibrosis effects in NRK-49F cells, as indicated by its inhibition of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ procollagen and TIMP-1 expression.

Study on Integral Dissolution Model Based on Biological Potency for Compound Chinese Materia Medica

Objective To investigate the integral dissolution model based on biological potency in order to evaluate the dissolution of Compound Chinese materia medica（CCMM） in vitro. Methods The contents of paeoniflorin, phillyrin, ginsenoside Rg1, and adenosine of ten batches of Compound Biejia Ruangan Tablet（CBRT） were determined at different times. The self-defined weighting coefficient based on the contents has been created to establish the integral dissolution model. In addition, the biological potency of CBRT was measured by MTT assay. Then, the f2 similar factor was used to evaluate the similarity of the batches. Results Compared with batch a, some batches’ f2 values of paeoniflorin and adenosine were less than 50, while f2 values of ginsenoside Rg1, phillyrin, and integral component were more than 50. Likewise, ginsenoside Rg1, phillyrin, and integral component were all in good correlation with biological dissolution. Conclusion The results of the integral dissolution based on biological test of CBRT demonstrate that the bioassay method may be a promising supplement for its quality evaluation.