hypericum and Fibrosis

To study the effects of hypericum perforatum extract (HPE) on myocardial fibrosis of the experimental autoimmune myocarditis (MFEAM) in mice.. MFEAM model of immunosuppressive mouse was established by porcine cardiac myosin. The mice in the MFEAM model group were randomly divided into: MFEAM model group (n=14), HPE 100 mg/kg group (n=13), HPE 40 mg/kg group (n=13) and captopril (Cap) 50 mg/kg control group (n=13). Drug in each group was dissolved in 0.4 ml of physiological saline each time, and administered by intragastric administration twice a day for 60 days; the normal control group (n=10) and the MFEAM model group was given normal saline at the same volume and course of treatment as above described way. The ratio of heart weight and spleen weight to body weight were calculated, the general conditions of mice were observed. The contents of procollagen I N-terminal peptide(PINP), procollagen III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP) and TGF-β1 in serum of mice were detected. The degree of myocardial fibrosis (MF) and collagen volume fraction (CVF)were measured under the microscope by Masson staining. The protein expression of TGF-β1 was detected by Western blot.. The serum levels of TGF-β1, PINP and PIIINP in the model group were higher than those in the normal group significantly (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01). Meanwhile , the levels of MF and CVF were increased, and the protein expression of myocardial TGF-β1 was up-regulated. However, the serum levels of PINP, PIIINP and TGF-β1 in HPE40 mg/kg, HPE 100 mg/kg and Cap treated-groups were decreased significantly. HPE and Cap could improve or decrease the MF level and CVF of the MFEAM model mice, and down-regulated the expression of TGF-β1 protein in different degrees. Compared with the MFEAM model group, the difference was significant (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).. HPE has a therapeutic effect on MF, which may be related to its reduction of collagen deposition and inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Topics: Animals; Cardiomyopathies; Fibrosis; Gene Expression Regulation; Heart; Hypericum; Mice; Plant Extracts; Random Allocation; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

The purpose of this study was to identify the possible effects of Hypericum Perforatum (HP) on the prevention of experimentally induced myringosclerosis (MS).. Twenty eight Wistar Albino rats were used and they were divided into four groups. Tympanic membranes of all animals were perforated and then group I had no treatment as a control group, group II had treated with olive oil only, group III had treated with HP orally and group IV had treated with HP topically.. Groups I and II showed extensive myringosclerosis in contrast to those of Groups III and IV which had significantly less changes (p<0.05). The inflammation and fibrosis in the lamina propria of the tympanic membranes of Groups I and II were found to be significantly more pronounced (p<0.05). The tympanic membranes were found to be significantly thinner in Groups III and IV when compared with Groups I and II (p<0.05).. The results of the present study suggested that oral or topical administration of HP extract after myringotomy suppressed the inflammation and fibroblastic activity in the lamina propria of the myringotomized TMs of the rats. Further clinical studies with larger population using HP and other antioxidants will be essential to provide further evidence for use of antioxidant therapy in patients with myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion for otitis media with effusion.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Administration, Topical; Animals; Fibrosis; Hypericum; Inflammation; Male; Models, Animal; Mucous Membrane; Myringosclerosis; Plant Extracts; Postoperative Complications; Rats, Wistar; Tympanic Membrane