| [Objectives] To detemine the effects and the therapeutic efficacy of Ginsenoside Rg3 on murine hepatic fibrosis due to Schistosoma japonicum. We tested whether Ginsenoside Rg3 combined with IFN-αwould enhance the therapeutic efficacy. Our goal is to find a medicine that offers inhibition of hepatic fibrosis with minimal side effects. Therefore we tested Ginsenoside Rg3 and observed its anti-hepatofibrosis effects to get some experimental data in terms of this field.[Methods] 80 mature male mice from the IcR strain, were randomized into 6 groups: named A, B, C, D, E and F. Each group had 12 mice except for group A with 20. Group A was a normal control group. Each mouse in group B, C, D, E and F was infected with 20±2 cercariae of Wan'e strain S. japonicum in one day via abdominal skin puncture respectively. 10 weeks later, 10 mice drawn out randomly from group A and 12 mice in group B were weighed and killed to see whether the mice developed hepatic fibrosis. Liver tissue samples of these mice were taken and observed. The remaining infected mice were treated with praziquantel (PZQ) to kill adult worms. Then, mice in group C and D were treated with IFN-αand Ginsenoside Rg3, respectively, mice in group E with both IFN-αand Ginsenoside Rg3, and mice in group F had no treatment. After 8 weeks of treatments, liver tissue samples from the rest of the mice and the former samples (group A and B) were stained with HE and van gieson (VG) stain to observe the histological changes, measure percentages of collagen fiber content in the liver tissue using graphic computing, and assess the scores through the semi-quantitative score scheme (SSS) for chronic hepatitis and liver fibrosis.[Results] Murine body weights had no statistically significant differences among all groups at the 10 (p=0.136) and the 18 weeks (p=0.078) respectively. After 10 weeks of infection, compared with group A, all murine livers in the group B had histological changes, especially in the hepatic portal areas, we observed large quantities of inflammatory cell infiltration, egg granuloma formation, extracellular matrix deposition (fibrosis), and mild pipe stem hepatic fibrosis development. This demonstrates that hepatic fibrosis was induced successfully. After 8 weeks of treatment with IFN-α(group C), Ginsenoside Rg3 (group D), both IFN-αand Ginsenoside Rg3 (group E), respectively, the mean percentages of the collagen content and the SSS scores of these 3 groups were all reduced with statistical significace compared with either group B or group F (without a medicine treatment). However, statistical differences of the 3 treated groups were not found. Using transmission electron microscopy, the collagen depositions in the Disse spaces of the 3 treated groups were less severe than in groups B and F. There were some myofibroblasts in the liver sample of the group B. We did not observe myofibroblasts in the samples from the 3 treated groups, but noticed more fat-storing cells in them than these of the group A sample.[ Conclusions ] This data suggests that Ginsenoside Rg3 as well as IFN-αhas anti-hepatofibrosis effects on schistosomiasis-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice, however neither of them is able to reverse the process of hepatic fibrosis. Their effects have no statistically significant differences. Ginsenoside Rg3 should be adopted in long-term treatment of hepatic fibrosis. The combination these two medicines had no statistically different effects compared with each of them alone. That shows the combination of Ginsenoside Rg3 with IFN-αdoes not appear to enhance the therapeutic efficacy.
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