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Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine >

2026 , Vol. 46 >Issue 4: 873 - 882

DOI: https://doi.org/10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.04.008

Original Articles

Taohong Huazhuo decoction (桃红化浊汤) alleviates carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats by inhibiting the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 signaling pathway

  • REN Yuan ,
  • CHEN Xiangni ,
  • SHI Lei ,
  • MAO Minghua ,
  • LI Shufang ,
  • YAO Jia ,
  • HAO Jianmei
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  • 1 Department of Hepatology, Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 710021, China
    2 Experimental Center, Xi'an Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 710021, China

Received date: 2025-06-05

  Accepted date: 2025-11-04

  Online published: 2026-08-08

Supported by

Youth Program of Xi'an Municipal Health Commission of China: Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Taohong Huazhuo decoction in Improving Liver Fibrosis by Regulating the Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Oxidase 2/Reactive Oxygen Species Signaling Pathway Based on the Theory of Damp-heat and Ministerial Fire(2024qn20);Cultivation Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital: Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Taohong Huazhuo decoction Against Liver Fibrosis Based on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-mediated Ferroptosis(2024YJ02)

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism underlying the anti-fibrotic effects of Taohong Huazhuo decoction (THHZD, 桃红化浊汤).

METHODS: Forty percent carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) dissolved in olive oil (2 mL/kg) was intraperitoneally injected twice a week for 8 weeks to induce hepatic fibrosis in rats. The normal group received the same volume of olive oil alone. At week 5, rats injected with CCl4 were intragastrically administered normal saline, 0.1 mg/kg colchicine, 3.285 g/kg THHZD, 6.57 g/kg THHZD, and 13.14 g/kg THHZD once a day for 4 weeks. A biochemical analyzer was used to detect the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson staining were performed to evaluate pathological changes in the liver. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the liver, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-18 in serum. The levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in liver tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, respectively. Western blot (WB) was used to analyze the expression levels of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4 (NOX4), nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, and collagen I in liver. Finally, in vitro experiments were conducted using hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6).

RESULTS: THHZD improved the pathological changes caused by CCl4 in the liver. Compared with the normal group, the levels of serum ALT, AST, TBIL, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the model group were significantly increased. NOX4, ROS, NLRP3, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, collagen I, α-SMA, and MDA levels were increased in the liver, while GSH levels were decreased. The administration of THHZD to CCl4-exposed rats significantly reversed or eliminated the changes in the above-mentioned indicators. Moreover, THHZD inhibited transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced high expression of α-SMA and collagen I in HSC-T6 cells, while downregulating the expression of proteins related to the NOX4/NLRP3 signaling pathway in vitro.

CONCLUSION: THHZD reduced the activation of HSCs by inhibiting the NOX4/NLRP3 signaling pathway, thereby exerting anti-hepatic fibrosis effects.

Key words： hepatic fibrosis; hepatic stellate cells; Taohong Huazhuo decoction

Cite this article

REN Yuan , CHEN Xiangni , SHI Lei , MAO Minghua , LI Shufang , YAO Jia , HAO Jianmei . Taohong Huazhuo decoction (桃红化浊汤) alleviates carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats by inhibiting the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 4/nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 signaling pathway[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2026 , 46(4) : 873 -882 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2026.04.008

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