Radiation Biology Department, National Centre for Radiation Research and Technology, Atomic Authority, Cairo, Egypt.
Chin Med. 2009 Jan 30;4:2. doi: 10.1186/1749-8546-4-2.
A major biomarker for liver fibrosis is transglutaminase which catalyzes cross-linking of epsilon-amines and alpha-glutamyl residues among amino acids leading to fibrosis. Fructus Piperis Longi is a common herb used in Chinese medicine. The present study evaluates the role of the ethanol extract of Fructus Piperis Longi in the modulation of liver function in liver fibrosis.
Plf extract (50 mg/kg) was force-fed to rats every other day 7 days before administration of thioacetamide and/or gamma irradiation. Thioacetamid 200 mg/kg was intraperitoneally administered to rats twice per week for four weeks. Rats were gamma irradiated (2 Gy/week up to a total dose of 8 Gy). Administration of Plf ext was extended during thioacetamid and/or irradiation treatment. Animals were sacrificed. Biochemical parameters in homogenised liver were tested.
A significant increase in transglutaminase activity and collagen content was recorded in the liver of thioacetamid-treated and/or irradiated rats. Significant increases in lipid peroxides, lipid hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes associated to significant decreases of reduced glutathione content, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were also recorded. Administration of Plf ext treatment reduced the severity of liver fibrosis and oxidative damage which was substantiated by amelioration of liver function detected by a decrease in serum aspartate aminotransaminase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyltransferase activities and bilirubin (total, direct and indirect) content.
Treatment of the ethanolic extract of Fructus Piperis Longi ameliorated the increase of the activity of tTG enzyme and enhanced antioxidant activities in fibrotic liver.
转谷氨酰胺酶是肝纤维化的一个主要生物标志物，它催化氨基酸中 ε-胺和 α-谷氨酰残基之间的交联，导致纤维化。荜茇是一种常用的中药草药。本研究评估荜茇乙醇提取物在肝纤维化中调节肝功能的作用。
Plf 提取物（50mg/kg）每隔一天灌胃给药，在给予硫代乙酰胺和/或γ射线之前 7 天开始。每周两次给大鼠腹腔内注射硫代乙酰胺 200mg/kg，共 4 周。每周给大鼠 γ 射线照射（每周 2Gy，总剂量 8Gy）。Plf 提取物的给药在硫代乙酰胺和/或照射治疗期间延长。处死动物。测试肝匀浆中的生化参数。
硫代乙酰胺处理和/或照射的大鼠肝中转谷氨酰胺酶活性和胶原含量显著增加。脂质过氧化物、脂质氢过氧化物和共轭二烯的显著增加与还原型谷胱甘肽含量、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性的显著降低相关。Plf 提取物治疗可减轻肝纤维化和氧化损伤的严重程度，这通过血清天冬氨酸氨基转移酶、丙氨酸氨基转移酶、碱性磷酸酶、γ-谷氨酰转移酶活性和胆红素（总胆红素、直接胆红素和间接胆红素）含量的降低来证实。
荜茇乙醇提取物的治疗可改善 tTG 酶活性的增加，并增强纤维化肝脏中的抗氧化活性。
