Suppression of Rat Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrosis by a Japanese Herbal Medicine, Inchinko-to (TJ135)

Introduction Herbal medicine has been recognized as one of useful treatments for chronic liver diseases. Inchinko-to (TJ135) consists of Artemisia Capillaris Spike, Gardenia Fruit and Rhubarb Rhizome. Artemisia Capillaris Spike and Gardenia Fruit promote bile secretion [1,2]. Rhubarb Rhizome is used for constipation. Rhubarb Rhizome contains anthraquinone derivatives, such as aloe emodin and emodin. TJ135 is used for cholestasis, primary biliary cirrhosis [3] and hepatitis C [4] in Japan. Although therapeutic benefit of TJ135 was recently reported on acute liver injury induced by Fas-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes [5], its effect on liver fibrosis has never been studied so far. In the present study, we investigated the effect of TJ135 and its component on the activation of rat hepatic stellate cells in primary culture [6]. In vivo effect of TJ135 on an experimental liver fibrosis caused by thioacetamide (TAA) administration was also studied.