Effect of Total Flavone from Litchi chinensis on TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathway in Rats Livers with Hepatic Fibrosis

Objective: Observed total flavone from Litchi chinensis Sonn(TFL) on dimethylnitrosamine(DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rat liver tissue the transforming growth factor-β 1(TGF-β 1) /Smad signal path key signaling molecule TGF-β 1,Smad3,Smad7 expression levels changes,explore the mechanism of TFL antifibrotic.Method: SD rats by intraperitoneal injection of DMN in rat liver fibrosis model for 4 weeks,selected silybin 50 mg·kg-1ig positive for the control group,then apply a different dose TFL(400,200,100 mg·kg-1· d-1) ig in experimental rats were sacrificed on the sixth week decimation the inferior vena venous detect aspartate transaminase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),specimens from the same liver parts for HE Masson staining pathological changes and liver fibrosis in rats,using RT-PCR method to detect the expression of TGF-β 1,Smad3,Smad7 mRNA.Result: Compared with blank control group,the degree of liver fibrosis in rats was obviously increased in model group and the serum AST and ALT were significantly increased,and the expression of TGF β 1 Smad3 mRNA in the liver tissue obviously increased(P 0.05),while the expression of Smad7 mRNA significantly reduced(P 0.05),compared with model group,TFL each dose group and silybin group serum AST,ALT were significantly lower than the model group,the expression of liver TGF-beta 1,smad3 significantly decreased(P 0.05),while the smad7 was increased.Conclusion: Total flavone from Litchi chinensis Sonn(TFL) may reduce liver injury and improve liver fibrosis in rats,and its mechanism may be closely related with suppression the expression of TGF-β 1,Smad3 mRNA,or increase the expression of Smad7 mRNA.