Nanoscale hepatoprotective herbal decoction attenuates hepatic stellate cell activity and chloroform-induced liver damage in mice

noscale hepatoprotective herbal decoction attenuates hepatic stellate cell activity and chloroform-induced liver damage in mice Original Research (3554) Total Article Views Authors: Huang S, Chang SJ, Yang M, Chen JJ, Chang WH Published Date July 2011 Volume 2011:6 Pages 1365 - 1371 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S19503 Sherry Huang1, Shu-Jen Chang2, Miffy Yang3, Justin Jin-Ching Chen3, Walter H Chang4 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taiwan; 2School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; 3Center for Nano Bioengineering, 4Department of Biomedical Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taiwan Background: San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang (SHXXT) decoction, a traditional Chinese medicine containing Rhei rhizome, Coptidis rhizome, and Scutellariae radix, is widely used in hepatoprotective therapy. However, preparation of the decoction requires addition of boiling water that causes loss of numerous effective components. Methods: To improve the bioavailability of the decoction, nanoscale SHXXT was developed. Chloroform-induced liver injury and hepatic stellate cell activity in mice were used to demonstrate the hepatoprotective characteristics of nanoscale SHXXT decoction. Results: Liver/body weight ratio and serum aspartate and alanine aminotranferase levels were recovered by the nanoscale SHXXT. TIMP-1 gene expression was inhibited and MMP-2 gene expression was accelerated in activated hepatic stellate cells. Conclusion: Nanoscale SHXXT decoction prepared in room temperature water could have preserved hepatoprotective ability. The results of this study indicate that nanoscale SHXXT could be extracted easily. The simple preparation of this herbal decoction is more convenient and energy-efficient.