Inhibitory Effect of Salvia Miltiorrhiza on Fibrogenesis in Rat Hepatic Stellate Cells

단삼(丹蔘)이 간성상세포의 섬유화 억제에 미치는 영향

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on rat hepatic stellate cells. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells(HSC-T6) were treated with various concentrations of Salvia miltiorrhiza extract for 24 hours. It was extracted either with distilled water or 50% EtOH. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, procollagen levels and the mRNA of the collagen type 1a2 and ASMA were measured Results : The viability and proliferation of the hepatic stellate cells were decreased as concentration increased. The mRNA expression decreased consistently with the volume of the secreted procollagen with the extraction made with distilled water. This indicates the herb has inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating one of the fibrosis associated genes in transcription. However it increased in 50% EtOH extraction, which shows that a more stable reaction is expected of the extraction made with distilled water than the extraction made with 50% EtOH. The production of procollagen was decreased by a low-concentration treatment with Salvia miltiorrhiza, but increased by a high concentration. It seemed that the cells were responding to Salvia miltiorrhiza in low- concentration, thus producing smaller amounts of collagen. When the drug was administered in high enough concentration to give direct toxicity to cells, an overproduction of collagen was observed. Conclusion : These results suggest that Salvia miltiorrhiza is a possible candidate for the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for patients with chronic hepatitis when extracted with water in the proper concentrations.