Efficacy of Banxia Xiexin decoction in a rat model of chronic atrophic gastritis.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effectiveness of Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) in a rat model of chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). METHODS Sixty 6-week-old healthy Wistar rats (30 males, 30 females) were used in the present study. A rat model of CAG was successfully established using the combined active immunization/ethanol/sodium deoxycholate method. BXD was prepared from a mixture of seven Chinese herbs, and was intragastrically administered to CAG rats at three different doses (6, 12, and 24 g·kg－1·d－1). After 24 weeks, the rats were euthanized, and gastric tissue specimens were collected. Gastric mucosal specimens were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological examination to evaluate the degree of inflammation and morphological changes. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine the mucosal expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Serum gastrin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay. The expression of Notch signaling-associated genes was examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assay. RESULTS BXD at all three doses significantly reversed the adverse effects generated by CAG in rats. Compared with control rats, the CAG rats who were administered BXD had an accelerated growth rate, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, improved gastric mucosal morphology, augmented thickness of the gastric mucosa, increased number of gastric glands, enhanced mucosal expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and elevated serum gastrin levels. CONCLUSION BXD has a therapeutic effect in a rat model of CAG by targeting the Notch signaling pathway, thereby blocking the CAG from progressing to early gastric cancer.