Icaritin induces cell death in activated hepatic stellate cells through mitochondrial activated apoptosis and ameliorates the development of liver fibrosis in rats

Icaritin is an active ingredient extracted from the plant Herba Epimedium Sagittatum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Maxim. Here we report the first experiment in which icaritin induces apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and decreases the development of experimental liver fibrosis in rats. In vitro, icaritin induced apoptosis in HSC-T6 (rat) and LX-2 (human) HSC cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner with little toxicity to normal hepatocyte cell lines. The main mechanism of cell death in activated HSCs appeared to be icaritin-mediated stimulation of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In vivo results showed that icaritin reduced the number of activated HSCs, and ameliorates the development of liver fibrosis in rats.