Abstract: Objective To observe the effect and possible mechanism of Huganjiexian Decoction on liver fibrosis-related cytokines CTGF,TGF-β 1,and PDGF.Methods Liver fibrosisr at models wereestablished by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride for eight weeks.The rats were divided into control group,model group,Minor Bupleurum Decoction group,and Huganjiexian Decoction group (administered with high,middle,and low doses of turmeric containing 15,9 and 6 g respectively,from week 9-12).Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of CTGF,TGF-β1,and PDGF in liver tissues.Results The expression levels of CTGF and PDGF in liver tissues in the high and middle dose groups significantly decreased compared to the model group(P<0.05),while the expression level of TGF-β1 decreased significantly only in the high dose group (P<0.05).Conclusion Huganjiexian Decoction could downregulate the expressions of fibrosis-promoting cytokines CTGF,TGF-β1,and PDGF,which might be one of the important mechanism protective effects of against liver fibrosis.

Key words: Huganjiexian Decoction, Hepatic fibrosis, Cytokine, Rats