OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of total flavonoids of Malus hupehensis on hepatic fibrosis in mice induced by Schistosoma japonicum.

METHODS

The mice model of hepatic fibrosis which infected by cercariae of S. japonicum were randomly divided into 6 groups: Group A as a blank control, Group B as a model, Group C as a positive control by complex liver soften tablet of turtle, Group D, E, F treated with a high dose of 114 mg/(kg x d), middle dose of 57 mg/(kg d), and low dose of 28.5 mg/(kg x d) of total flavonoids of Malus hupehensis, respectively. Every group had 10 mice. Each group of C, D, E, F was orally given praziquantel at a dose of 500 mg/(kg x d) for 2 d, on 42 d after the infection, and then administered with total flavonoids of Malus hupehensis for 60 d. Group A and B were orally given with sodium chloride. All the mice were killed at the end of the administration. Serum hyaluronic acid (HA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were detected; hydroxyproline in liver tissues was detected; areas of egg granuloma and degrees of hepatic fibrosis were observed via HE and Masson staining.

RESULTS

Compared with the blank control Group A, the egg granuloma appeared obviously, the collagen deposit and fibrosis occurred in liver tissues of Group B, C, D, E, F. The levels of ALT, AST, HA in sera and HYP in liver tissues were significantly higher (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, the levels of ALT, AST, HA and HYP in the high, middle and low dose groups of total flavonoids were significantly lower than those in the model Group B (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), the areas of egg granuloma, the collagen deposits and the degrees of hepatic fibrosis in Group C, D, E, F were significantly lower than those in the model Group B.

CONCLUSIONS

The total flavonoids of Malus hupehensis have an obviously inhibitory effect on the hepatic fibrosis induced by Schistosomajaponicum infection.