ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of genistein on the proliferation and lipid peroxidation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro and its the protective effect against hepatic fibrosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6 cells) were divided into 3 groups and incubated in the presence of 0.1 mol/L hydrogen dioxide followed by washing with PBS for 3 times. Genistein at different concentrations was added into the cell culture meclia, and after 48 h of incubation, the cell proliferation was assessed with MTT assay and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in the supernatant of the cell culture were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genistein at different concentrations inhibited the cell proliferation, showing a dose-effect relationship. Genistein significantly decreased the production of intracellular MDA and GSH and increased SOD and GSH PX activity.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Genistein can prevent the formation of hepatic fibrosis probably by decreasing HSC proliferation and lipid peroxidation.</p>