Anti-fibrotic effects of a hot-water extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza roots an liver fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction in rats

The anti-fibrotic effects of a hot-water extract form the traditional Chine se medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza (Labiatae) on liver fibrosis induced by biliary obstruction was studied in rats. Liver fibrosis was induced in m ale Sprague-Dawley rats by bile duct ligation and scission (BDL). After sur gery, the hot-water extract of 5. miltiorrhiza roots (100 mg kg(-1), p.o.) was administered daily for 28 days. The concentrations of aspartate transam inase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin and tota l cholesterol in serum and hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde contents in l iver were significantly increased in BDL rats. Treatment with the extract o f 5. miltiorrhiza significantly reduced (P< 0.01) the serum aspartate trans aminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and total cholesterol concentrations in BDL rats. The liver hydroxyproline content in BDL rats tr eated with extract was also reduced to 68% of that in BDL control rats (P < 0.01). The liver malondialdehyde content in BDL rats treated with the extr act was also reduced to 47 % of that in BDL control rats (P < 0.01). The mo rphological characteristics of fibrotic livers were improved in BDL rats tr eated with extract. Immunohistochemical examination of fibrotic liver showe d that the extract of S. miltiorrhiza markedly reduced protein expression o f a-smooth muscle cell-like actin, which indicates that hepatic stellate ce ll activation was inhibited during liver fibrosis development. The results indicate that the hot-water extract of S. miltiorrhiza roots inhibits fibro sis and lipid peroxidation in rats with liver fibrosis induced by biliary o bstruction.