In this study, we investigated the antifibrotic effect of natural product extracts(Ginseng and Notoginseng: GN). The Spague-Dawly rats were devided in 3 groups[control, liver fibrosis(cirrhosis) induced rats group: BDL/S, liver fibrosis(cirrhosis) induced and treated with GN extracts by oral application group: BDL/S+GN]. The liver cihrrosis(fibrosis) were developed by bile duct double ligation and scission(BDL/S). For the application of GN, the two different Radix were extracted in water about 4 hours. the BDL/S operated rats were recieved water extracts(3㎖/rat/day) in 4 weeks and all rats were sacrified and collected liver tissue and blood. Procollagen type III peptide(PNIIIP) in sera measured by ELISA and Hydroxyproline(hyp) in liver tissue by colorimetry. The liver tissue were stained with H&E for the histological observation and ALT, AST, ALP and t-bilirubin in sera were measured for the liver function.
In the results, jaundice in BDL/S appeared more strongly than that in BDL/S+GN. group. Hepatomegaly and sllenomegaly were observed in BDL/S and BDL/S+GN. The liver weight of BDL/S and BDL/S+GN groups were shown significantly higher than in control group (16.51g ± 3.75, 18.7 ±2.92, 7.8g ±0.5: p<0.005). The group of BDL/S+GN was shown the lower level of PNIIIP in sera and the content of HYP in liver tissue compared with the group of untreated rats.
Comparison of collagen parameters PNIIIP in sera and HYP in liver tissue revealed no correlation in BDL/S group and BDL/S+GN group. GN treated group showed the lower value of ALT, AST, ALP and Total-Bilirubin than the value obtained by rats operated by BDL/S only.
The significantly lower value of ALT and ALP were shown BDL/S+GN group. In the histological finding, the BDL/S and BDL/S+GN group were shown island of hepatocytes and massive bile duct proliferation.
These results show that GN can inhibit slightly the synthesis and accumulation of collagen in the extracellular space.
It conclude that can not be proven the weak inhibition of liver cirrhosis(fibrosis) in animals by application of GN water extracts.
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