Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanism of salvia miltiorrhizae in the treatment of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) or obstructive jaundice (OJ).
Methods: SAP rat models were prepared and randomly divided into the model control group and treated group. The sham-operated group was also set. At 3 h, 6 h and 12 h after operation, the mortality rate, the pathological changes in the liver, the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum, the expression levels of Bax and NF-kappaB p65 proteins in the liver, and the apoptosis index of hepatic cells in SAP rats in each group were observed. On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 after operation, the above parameters and the contents of TBILI (total billirubin), DBILI (direct bilirubin) and r-GT (r-glutamyl transpeptidase) in serum in OJ rats were observed.
Results: The contents of serum ALT (at 6 h and 12 h after operation) and AST (at 3 h and 12 h after operation) as well as the staining intensity of NF-kappaB p65 protein (at 12 h after operation) in the liver of SAP rats in the treated group were significantly lower than those in model control group (all P < 0.01). The pathological severity scores (on 21 d and 28 d after operation) in the liver, the contents of serum ALT (on 14 d and 21 d after operation), AST (on 21 d after operation), TBILI (on 21 d and 28 d after operation), DBILI (on 28 d after operation) and r-GT (on 21 d after operation), and the apoptosis index of hepatic cells in OJ rats in treated group were significantly lower than those in model control group (all P < 0.05). The positive rates of Bax protein (on 28 d after operation) in treated group was significantly lower than model control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Salvia miltiorrhizae is able to improve the liver function of SAP or OJ rats, suppress the expression of NF-kappaB p65 protein in the liver of SAP rats, and inhibit apoptosis in OJ rats, thereby showing some protective effects on the liver of SAP or OJ rats.