EFFICACY OF SI-JUN-ZI DECOCTION IN THE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE AND ITS MECHANISM

Abstract

Objective To explore the efficacy of Si-jun-zi Decoction in treating alcoholic liver disease and its mechanism. Methods Male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal group (group A), alcohol model group (group B), low-dose Si-jun-zi Decoction group (group C), and high-dose Si-jun-zi Decoction group (group D). Mice in the groups B-D were intragastrically administered ethanol solution (6 g/kg) with a volume fraction of 0.56 per day, while mice in group A were intragastrically administered an equal dose of normal saline per day. Meanwhile, mice in groups C and D were given Si-jun-zi Decoction at 5 and 10 g/kg per day, respectively. The body mass was measured once every 5 d. The experiment lasted for 18 d. After gavage, fresh feces were collected to analyze the changes in intestinal flora by 16S rDNA gene sequencing. After anesthesia, blood was collected from the canthus, and serum was collected for intestinal permeability test. Blood, liver, and spleen tissues were collected. The liver and spleen indices as well as the content of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (T-BIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were measured in each group. The morphological changes of liver and spleen were observed in each group using hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining. Results Compared with group B, group D had significantly different body mass and liver and spleen indices (t=3.53-4.41,P<0.05), and significantly lower serum ALP, T-BIL, and TG levels (t=3.51-5.60,P<0.05). Compared with group B, groups C and D had significantly decreased serum ALT, AST, and TC levels (t=2.19-7.62,P<0.05). The pathological results showed that compared with group B, the morphology of hepatic cords in the liver tissues of groups C and D were back to normal, and the accumulation of liver fat was reduced; the red marrow and white marrow in the spleen tissue were clearly demarcated. The results of intestinal permeability showed that the intestinal permeability of group D was significantly lower than that of group B (t=3.19,P<0.05). The results of intestinal flora showed that compared with group B, the diversity of intestinal flora in mice of groups C and D was increased, with the content of beneficial bacteria such as Dubosiella,Bifidobacterium, and Allobaculum increased and that of pathogenic bacteria such as Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Alloprevotella decreased. Conclusion Si-jun-zi Decoction effectively ameliorates alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. The mechanism may be achieved by regulating intestinal flora.

Keywords

• liver diseases, alcoholic|si-jun-zi decoction|gastrointestinal microbiome|rna, ribosomal, 16s|invi-gorating spleen for eliminating dampness