In vitro activity: Oxymatrine is a quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from the root of Sophora flavescens, which is used for the treatment of viral hepatitis, cancer, viral myocarditis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage and skin diseases (such as colpitis, psoriasis and eczema). Oxymatrine protects mice from fulminant hepatitis induced by GalN/LPS and may block hepatocyte apoptosis and subsequent necrosis through downregulating the production of serum tumor necrosis factor alpha and the expression of Fas and Fas ligand in liver tissue. Oxymatrine also shows anti-hepatitis B virus effect in vivo by reducing the contents of HBsAg and HBcAg in transgenic mice liver.

Cell Assay: DU145, PC-3 and PNT1B cell lines (3×104 cells/well) are seeded into 96-well plates and incubated overnight at 37°C in 5% CO2. Subsequently, the cells are incubated with different concentrations of oxymatrine (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg/mL). MTT (10 mL; 5 mg/mL) is added and the mixture is incubated in darkness at 37°C for 2 h. Absorbance is measured at a wavelength of 490 nm using a microplate reader.

Rats: One hundred healthy male SD rats (weight 140-160 g) are used in the study. All 100 rats are randomLy divided into three groups: Control (n=20), Treatment (n=40) and Model group (n=40). For the model group, 300 g/L CCl4 soluted in liquid paraffin is injected subcutaneously at a dosage of 3 mL/kg twice per week. The treated rats receive Oxymatrine celiac injections at 10 mg/kg twice a week besides the injection of CCl4