Effect of Astragalus Injection on Expression of Collagen and TGF-β_1 in Rat Model of Experimental Fibrosi

Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of astragalus injection on liver fibrosis, type Ⅰ collagen(Col-Ⅰ) and TGF-β1 was measured by immunochemistry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in a rat model. Methods Thirty-five SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis model group and astragalus injection group. CCl4 had been injected subcutaneously for ten weeks,after CCl4 intervention, all rats were killed immediately. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure the expression of Col-Ⅰ in liver tissue. The level of TGF-β1 in serum was measured by ELISA. Results The CCl4-induced rat liver fibrosis model was established successfully. The expression of Col-Ⅰ in liver tissues and the level of TGF-β1 in serum increased significantly with the development of liver fibrosis. The average OD values of Col-Ⅰ were 0.298,0.315 and 0.503 in the normal control group, astragalus injection group and fibrosis group, respectively. The difference was significant between fibrosis group and the other groups(P0.01), while the difference was not significant between normal control group and astragalus injection group(P0.05). The level of TGF-β1 were 491.285pg/L,629.910pg/L,959.086pg/L in the normal control group, astragalus injection group and fibrosis group, respectively. The difference was significant between fibrosis group and the other groups(P0.01), while the difference was not significant between normal control group and astragalus injection group(P0.05). Conclusion Astragalus injection could significantly inhibit liver fibrosis by reduces the expression of Col-Ⅰand TGF-β1 in the experimental rat model of liver cirrhosis.