Hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens Heml.) prevents against rat liver fibrosis induced by CCl4 via inhibition of hepatic stellate cells activation

In this study, the protective effect of extract of Hsian-tsao (Mesona procumbens) (EHT) against liver fibrogenesis in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-injured rats was evaluated. The inhibitory effect of oleanolic acid (OA) and ursolic acid (UA), which are the active compounds in EHT, on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) was also determined. The results showed that EHT at a dosage of 1.2 g/kg of b.w. significantly reduced the liver injury induced by CCl4 in rats. It also decreased the activity of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the deposition of collagen in the liver. Oral administration of EHT reduced the levels of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and the activity of metalloproteinases (MMPs) in rats injured by treatment with CCl4. In addition, we performed experiments with the rat hepatic stellate cell line HSC-T6 in which we induced the expression of MMP-2 and α-SMA with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Treating these cells with OA (20 μM) or UA (10 μM) caused a decrease in the levels of both proteins. Taken together, our data indicate that EHT can efficiently inhibit CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats. EHT may therefore be a useful functional food for preventing liver fibrosis.