本研究主要探討台灣金線連有效分劃(AFEF)對thioacetamide (TAA) 所誘發小鼠肝臟纖維化的效果。BABL/c雄性小鼠隨機分成四組，即控制組、TAA組及AFEF兩組。除了控制組，所有小鼠每週三次由腹腔注射TAA (200 mg/kg body weight)，持續八週。AFEF組小鼠的整個實驗過程，每天一次經口投予AFEF (0.2或1.0 g/kg body weight)。TAA誘發小鼠肝纖維化，最終的血清GPT活性上升、肝臟hydroxypoline含量增加、肝臟相對重量增加、血清膽固醇含量下降。AFEF之處理能降低血清GPT活性、肝臟相對重量及肝臟hydroxypoline含量，增加血清膽固醇含量。肝臟組織學的分析也顯示有改善作用。RT-PCR的分析顯示AFEF能降低TAA處理的肝臟collagen（α1）（I）、insulin-like growth factor binding protein及lipopolysaccharidebinding protein mRNA表現。結論，小鼠口服AFEF能減弱TAA所誘發的肝臟纖維化，可能是AFEF具有抗肝臟發炎的作用而保護肝細胞不會壞死。
To investigate the effects of Anoectochilus formosanus effective fraction (AFEF) on liver fibrosis induced by thioacetamide (TAA) in mice. Male BABL/c mice were divdied randomely into 4 groups: control, TAA, and two AFEF groups. Except for mice in control group, all mice were administered intraperitoneally with TAA (200 mg/kg body weight) three time a week for 8 weeks . Mice in AFEF groups were treated daily with AFEF (0.2 or 1.0 g/kg body weight) via gastrogavage throught the whole experimental period. TAA caused liver fibrosis, featuring increase in serum GPT activity, hepatic hydroxyproline content, and liver relative weight; and decrease in serum cholesterol level. Compared with TAA group, AFEF treatment significantly decreased the activity of GPT, liver relative weight and hepatic hydroxyproline content; but increased serum cholesterol concentration. Liver histology in the AFEF-treated mice was also improved. RT-PCR analysis showed that AFEF treatment decreased the expression of collagen (??1)(I), lipopolysaccharide binding protein and insulin-like growth factor binding protein. In conclusion, oral administration of AFEF significantly reduces TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice, probably by exerting a protective effect against hepatocellular necrosis by its anti-inflammatory ability.
