Huangqi decoction alleviates dimethylnitrosamine-induced liver fibrosis: An analysis of bile acids metabolic mechanism.

Abstract Ethnopharmacological relevance Huangqi Decoction (HQD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, is used to treating liver injury in China. The aim of the study is to investigate mechanisms of HQD against dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis underlying metabolic profiles of bile acids. Materials and methods DMN-induced liver fibrosis rats were administrated HQD and its compounds, astragalosides (AS), glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and their combination. The anti-fibrosis effects were evaluated and targeted metabolomics by UPLC-MS was used to examine whether HQD had an influence on bile acid metabolism. The levels of mRNAs associated with bile acid metabolism were expressed by RT-PCR. Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA)-induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) proliferation and activation were examined using MTS assay and Western blot. Results Histopathological changes and serum liver function in HQD group had significant improvements ( P P P P P 3, OATP4, NTCP and MRP3 restored to normal levels by HQD treatment. Moreover, CDCA-induced HSCs proliferation and activation were weaken by HQD ( P Conclusions HQD alleviated DMN-induced liver fibrosis with a better effect than its compounds, which may be involved in the regulation of bile acid metabolism enzyme. Moreover, HQD may inhibit CDCA-induced HSCs proliferation and activation.