ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE：To study the effect and potential mechanism of the total flavonoids from Marchantia convoluta on anti-hepatic fibrosis in the mice. METHODS ：Seventy-two mice were randomly divided into blank group ，model group ，positive control group （colchicine 0.2 mg/kg）and M. convoluta total flavonoids high-dose ，medium-dose and low-dose groups （300，150， 75 mg/kg），with 12 mice in eac group. Except for blank group ，other groups were subcutaneously given 25％ CCl4-peanut oil solution on the back to induce liver fibrosis model. At the same time ，blank group and model group were given water intragastrically，while other groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically 20 mL/kg，once a day ，for consecutive 10 weeks. After last administration ，the serum levels of ALT and AST were detected . Histopathological changes of liver tissue in mice was observed. The levels of COL- Ⅰ，COL-Ⅲ and TGF-β1 in liver tissue were detected . The protein expression levels of α-SMA and TGF-β1，Smad2，Smad4 and Smad 7 in liver tissue were detected . The expression levels of TGF-β1，Smad2，Smad4 and Smad 7 mRNA in liver tissue were detected . RESULTS ：Compared with blank group ，the serum levels of ALT and AST in model group，the levels of COL- Ⅰ，COL-Ⅲ and TGF-β1 in liver tissue，protein expression levels of α-SMA，TGF-β1，Smad2 and Smad 4，mRNA expression levels of TGF-β1，Smad2 and Smad4 were increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）.The mRNA and protein expression levels of Smad 7 in liver tis sue were decreased significantly （P＜0.05）. The degree of liver tissue injury and collagen fiber hyperplasia were serious. Compared with model group ，above indexes of mice were reversed significantly in positive control group and M. convoluta total flavonoids high-dose group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Serum level of ALT ，the levels of COL- Ⅰ，mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1，Smad2 and Smad 4 in liver tissue were decreased significantly in M. convoluta total flavonoids medium-dose group （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Protein expression of Smad 2 and Smad 4 in liver tissue were decreased significantly in M. convoluta total flavonoids low-dose group （P＜0.05）. The liver injury and fibrosis of mice were relieved in administration groups. CONCLUSIONS ：M. convoluta total flavonoids possess the effect of anti-hepatic fibrosis ，the mechanism of which is related to the regulation of mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1，Smad2，Smad4 and Smad 7 in the signaling pathway of TGF-β/Smad.