ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the protective effect and mechanism of vitamin D combined with puerarin on liver fibrosis.Methods The rats were divided into normal control group (C),tetrachloromethone group (CCl4),vitamin D group (V),puerarin group(P) and vitamin D combined with puerarin group(V+P).After 8 weeks,the rats were sacrificed and blood and liver samples were collected.The level of blood hyaluronic acid(HA) was tested.The hydroxyproline(Hyp) level in the liver was measured.The liver paraffin sections were made and examined by the sirius red staining.The mRNA levels of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ in the liver tissue were detected by RT-PCR,and the levels of NF-κB and TNF-α in the liver were detected by Western blot.Results The CCl4 group appeared obvious liver fibrosis.The liver fibrosis degree was significantly improved in the group V,P and V+P,the blood HA level and liver Hyp level were reduced.The mRNA levels of collagen Ⅰ and collagen Ⅲ as well as the protein levels of NF-κB and TNF-α in the liver were significantly decreased.Among them.The liver fibrosis improvement degree in the V+P group was most significant.Conclusion Vitamin D combined with puerarin can protect rat liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 and its mechanism may be related with reducing the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSC) and decreasing the collagenous fibers secretion.