Effect of Genistein on TGF-β_1 in plasma and hepatic tissue of CCl_4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats

Objective To investigate the antifibrotic effect of 4,5,7-Genistein on CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats and expression of TGF-β1. Methods A hepatic fibrosismodel was induced by CCl4.The levels of alanine transaminase (ALT),aspartic transaminase (AST),TGF-β1 and type-Ⅰcollagen in plasma were detected by chemical kit. The deposition of collagen was observed with HE staining. The expression of TGF-β1 in hepatic tissue was observed by immuno-histochemistry. Results The concentration of serum ALT,AST,TGF-β1 and type-Ⅰcollagen was significantly reduced in the middle and high dose treated groups compared with that of model group. A significant reduction of collagen deposition and rearrangement in Genistein -treated group was displayed in histopathological changes. The expression of TGF-β1 was considerably decreased in the treated animals. Conclusion Genistein has an obvious protective effect on model rats,and remarkably inhibits TGF-β1 expression in plasma and liver tissue which is thought to be one possible antifibrogenic mechanism.