Mechanism of Action of Rhubarb on Intrahepatic Cholestasis in Infantile Rats

Objective To explore mechanism of action of rhubarb on intrahepatic cholestasis in infantile rats.Methods Ninety Sprague-Dawley(SD)infantile rats were randomly divided into 5 groups:treatment group of rhubarb,untreated group,treatment control group 1 of ursodeoxychlic acid(UDCA),treatment control group 2 of UDCA and deltasone,and control group not treated with α-naphthyl isothiocyanate(ANIT)and any other treatments.Jaundice model of intrahepatic cholestasis was established in infantile rats by ANIT.At the time of the 2nd,3rd,and 4th week,the concentrations of serum total bilirubin(TB),direct bilirubin(DB),ALT,alkaline phosphatase(ALP),total bile acid(TBA)and TBA were assessed by automatic biochemical analyzer.The concentrations of nitrogen monoxide(NO),maleic dialdehyde(MDA)and the ability of total antioxidation(T-AOC)in liver tissues were measured.Results It was demonstrated that the animal model of hepatic jaundice with cholestasis was successfully established.The levels of serum DB,TB,ALP,ALT and TBA were significantly lower in the treatment group of rhubarb compared with those in the untreated group(Pa0.05).Meanwhile,better effects of relieving the jaundice and decreasing the ALP and TBA levels could be observed in rhubarb treatment group compared with the UDCA group or treatment group of combined use of UDCA and deltasone.The level of T-AOC in liver tissue was much lower in untreated group compared with that in the untreated control group,while NO and MDA were much higher.But after the rhubarb treatment,the levels of T-AOC in liver tissue increased and became much higher than that of in the untreated group,while the NO and MDA became lower than that in the untreated group(P0.05).Conclusions Rhubarb remarkably reduces the concentrations of serum TB,DB,ALT,ALP and TBA,relieves the toxicity of bile acid and inhibits the hepatic injury.Mechanisms of rhubarb action on intrahepatic cholestasis relate with may be related to decreasing the level of NO in liver tissue,protecting cells as well as increasing the ability of clearance products from oxygen-derived free radicals and antioxidant damage.