Prevention of Cistanche salsa Extract on Hepatic Fibrosis Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Rats

ObjectiveTo explore the antifibrotic effect of echinacoside on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis in rats.MethodsMale Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control (n = 8), model (n = 14), and echinacoside treatment (n = 14) groups. The hepatic fibrosis model was induced by CCl4 compositor. The rats were ig administered with echinacoside at a daily dose of 50 mg/kg. The anti-oxidant status, liver function parameters, and hepatic hydroxyproline content were detected by chromatometry. The serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), type IV collagen (CIV), type III precollagen (PIIIP), and laminin (LN) were assayed with radioimmunoassay. The hpatic injury was detected by haematoxylin-eosine staining. The deposition of collagen was observed with Masson staining.ResultsEchinacoside increased the superoxide dismutase activity and reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, HA, CIV, PIIIP, and LN in serum. Echinacoside could also reduce the hydroxyproline content in liver, alleviate hepatic injury, and inhibit collagen deposition.ConclusionEchinacoside possesses antihepatic fibrosis effect.