Introduction::The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has increased in recent
years. Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is an important step in the progression of NAFLD to cirrhosis and even carcinoma
and is also recognized as a possible reversal phase.
Aims::We previously found that the aqueous extract of Sedum Lineare Thunb. has hepatoprotective effects.
This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of the Sedum Lineare Thunb. n-butanol
phase (SLNP) on HF in rats.
Methods::Animals were intraperitoneally injected with thioacetamide solution twice a week for 8 weeks to prepare
an HF model and were administered the corresponding drugs or an equal volume of normal saline by intragastric
administration once a day for 8 weeks. Liver function, hydroxyproline and malondialdehyde (MDA)
content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), Na+-K+-ATPase, and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase were analyzed using colorimetric
methods. Moreover, mRNA expression and protein levels in the liver tissue were detected via quantitative
polymerase chain reaction and western blotting, respectively.
Results::The results showed that SLNP could effectively improve the liver function of rats with HF and significantly
reduce the content of hydroxyproline; the mRNA expression and protein levels of alpha-smooth muscle
actin (α-SMA), collagen I, III, and IV, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad2/3, and Smad4
were also significantly reduced. Simultaneously, SLNP significantly increased the activities of SOD, Na+-K+-
ATPase, and Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase in the rat liver tissues, whereas it reduced the levels of MDA and SOD in the
serum and liver tissues.
Conclusion::This study revealed that SLNP elicits an anti-fibrotic effect by inhibiting oxidative stress and stellate
cell activation, thereby reducing the formation and deposition of the extracellular matrix. The TGF-β1/Smads
signaling pathway may be involved in this process