Anti-fibrotic effects of Cuscuta chinensis with in vitro hepatic stellate cells and a thioacetamide-induced experimental rat model

Abstract

Context:Cuscuta chinensis Lam. (Convolvulaceae) has been used as a traditional herbal remedy for treating liver and kidney disorders.Objective: Anti-fibrotic effects of C. chinensis extract (CCE) in cellular and experimental animal models were investigated.Materials and methods: HSC-T6 cell viability, cell cycle and apoptosis were analysed using MTT assay, flow cytometry and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining techniques. Thioacetamide (TAA)-induced fibrosis model was established using Sprague Dawley rats (n = 10). Control, TAA, CCE 10 (TAA with CCE 10 mg/kg), CCE 100 (TAA with CCE 100 mg/kg) and silymarin (TAA with silymarin 50 mg/kg). Fibrosis was induced by TAA (200 mg/kg, i.p.) twice per week for 13 weeks. CCE and silymarin were administered orally two times per week from the 7th to 13th week. Fibrotic related gene expression (α-SMA, Col1α1 and TGF-β1) was measured by RT-PCR. Serum biomarkers, glutathione (GSH) and hydroxyproline were estimated by spectrophotometer using commercial kits.Results: CCE (0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL) and silymarin (0.05 mg/mL) treatment significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001) induced apoptosis (11.56%, 17.52% for CCE; 16.50% for silymarin, respectively) in activated HSC-T6 cells, compared with control group (7.26%). Further, rat primary HSCs showed changes in morphology with CCE 0.1 mg/mL treatment. In in vivo studies, CCE (10 and 100 mg/kg) treatment ameliorated the TAA-induced altered levels of serum biomarkers, fibrotic related gene expression, GSH, hydroxyproline significantly (p < 0.05–0.001) and rescued the histopathological changes.Conclusions: CCE can be developed as a potential agent in the treatment of hepatofibrosis.

Beneficial effects of Cuscuta chinensis extract on glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis through modulation of RANKL/OPG signals

“…Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups (n=8) as follows: control group (CON), osteoporosis group (DEX), and 2 groups of rats with osteoporosis receiving 100 mg/kg CCE (DEX+CCE); the dose of CCE (100 mg/kg) was based on previous research (19) and our preliminary experiments. Rats in all groups except control group were injected with 7 mg/kg dexamethasone disodium phosphate intramuscularly once a week for five weeks (20).…”

Anti-fibrotic activity of licorice extract in comparison with colchicine on areca nut-induced fibroblasts: An in vitro study

“…In a study by Kim et al ., to study the antifibrotic potential of Cuscuta chinensis extract on hepatic stellate cells and mouse models induced by thioacetamide, they found that the herbal extract reduced the expression of α-SMA, Col1α1 and TGF-β1 expression analyzed by RT-PCR. [ 21 ] Our study, in contrast, did not focus on the molecular aspects of fibrinogenesis.…”

Effects of a combination of herbal extracts (modified Ojayeonjonghwan (Wuzi Yanzong wan)) on partial urethral obstruction-induced detrusor overactivity in rats: impact on the nitric oxide pathway and oxidative stress

“…Cornus officinalis Sieb is useful for bladder overactivity [ 17 ], erectile dysfunction [ 16 ], diabetes and diabetes-related chronic kidney disease [ 18 ]. Cuscuta chinensis Lam exhibits antioxidant [ 19 ] and anti-fibrotic effects [ 20 ]. Robus coreanus Miquel exhibits anti-inflammatory effects [ 21 ], is useful in erectile dysfunction [ 22 ] and increases sperm quality [ 23 ].…”