The dose-effect study on preventive experiment of scutellaria decoction on liver cirrhosis endotoxemia

Objective: To study the preventive effect of scutellaria decoction on cirrhosis endotoxemia and to explore the dose-effect relationship. Methods: Carbon tetrachloride combined with cholesterol and ethanol was used to establish rat model of liver cirrhosis, and rats were divided into scutellaria decoction high-dose (12 g/kg), medium-dose (6 g/kg) and low-dose (3 g/kg) groups, normal control group, model control group and norfloxacin group. During the experiment, the rats' general condition and body weight were observed; at the end of the experiment, the rats were executed to detect serum endotoxin level, liver function changes and liver fibrosis degree. Results: At the end of treatment, liver fibrosis degree of rats in high-dose, medium-dose and low-dose treatment groups and norfloxacin group was significantly lower than that in model group (P<0.05); the rats' body weight increased significantly compared with that in model group (P<0.05); endotoxemia level was significantly lower than that in model group (P<0.05). ALT level increase was significantly smaller than that in model group (P<0.05); albumin level was significantly higher than that in model group (P<0.05). The high-dose group had the best preventive effect, medium-dose and low-dose groups did not significantly differ, and norfloxacin group had the poorest efficacy. Conclusion: Scutellaria decoction can prevent the formation of endotoxemia in rat liver cirrhosis, and they have a certain dose-effect relationship.