The experimental study on the effects of Xiaochaihu Soup on nonalcoholic rat fatty liver

Objective: To explore the effects of Xiaochaihu Soup on liver function and blood fat in diet-induced rat nonalcoholic hepatitis model. Methods: A total of 60 Wistar rats with fatty liver were randomly divided into four normal control group, model control group, Xiaochaihu Soup treatment group [1 g/(kg·d)] and essential treatment group [64 mg/(kg·d)], with 15 in each group. We determined the effects of Xiaochaihu Soup on body mass, liver wet weight, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG) in the serum and liver tissue of nonalcoholic rat fatty liver, which were compared with those in essential treatment group. Results: After treatment with Xiaochaihu Soup, the body weight and liver wet weight of rats were obviously lower than those in model group (P<0.05); serum ALT and AST levels as well as TC and TG contents were significantly decreased (P<0.05). The therapeutic effects were similar to those in essential treatment group. Conclusion: Xiaochaihu Soup can be used to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver in rats by reducing body weight and liver weight, regulating lipid metabolism, improving liver function, and reducing liver lipid deposition.