Original Article
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 7, 2009; 15(45): 5669-5673
Published online Dec 7, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5669
Inhibitory effect of emodin and Astragalus polysaccharide on the replication of HBV
Shuang-Suo Dang, Xiao-Li Jia, Ping Song, Yan-An Cheng, Xin Zhang, Ming-Zhu Sun, En-Qi Liu
Shuang-Suo Dang, Xiao-Li Jia, Ping Song, Yan-An Cheng, Xin Zhang, Ming-Zhu Sun, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Xi’an 710004, Shannxi Province, China
En-Qi Liu, The Center of Experimental Animal, Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Xi’an 710004, Shannxi Province, China
Author contributions: Jia XL and Song P performed the majority of experiments; Jia XL mainly wrote the paper; Zhang X, Sun MZ and Liu EQ contributed to the transgenic mouse work; Dang SS and Cheng YA designed the research.
Correspondence to: Shuang-Suo Dang, Professor, Department of Infectious Disease, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Medical School of Xi’an Jiao Tong University, Xi’an 710004, Shannxi Province, China. dang212@126.com
Telephone: +86-29-83036998 Fax: +86-29-87679688
Received: June 12, 2009
Revised: October 19, 2009
Accepted: October 26, 2009
Published online: December 7, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the anti-viral effect of emodin plus Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) in hepatitis B virus (HBV) transgenic mice.

METHODS: Sixty HBV transgenic mice (HBV TGM) whose weight varied between 18 and 24 g were randomly divided into 3 groups, with 20 mice in each group. Group A was the normal control, where the mice were treated with physiological saline; group B was the positive control where the mice were treated with lamivudine solution (100 mL/kg per day). Group C was the experimental group where the mice were treated with physiological saline containing emodin and APS (57.59 mg/kg per day and 287.95 mg/kg per day, respectively). The mice were treated daily for 3 wk. After 1 wk recovery time, the mice were sacrificed and serum as well as liver tissues were collected for ELISA and histological examination.

RESULTS: After 21 d treatment, HBV DNA levels in group B and group C significantly declined when compared with group A (P < 0.05). However, a significant increase in HBV DNA content was observed in group B, whereas this phenomenon was not observed in group C. A reduction in the contents of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBcAg in the mice from group B and C was observed when compared with group A.

CONCLUSION: Emodin and APS have a weak but persistent inhibitory effect on HBV replication in vivo, which may function as a supplementary modality in the treatment of hepatitis B infection.

Keywords: Astragalus polysaccharides; Emodin; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B virus; Lamivudine