Casticin attenuates liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell activation by blocking TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway.

ABSTRACT: Although many advances have been made in understanding the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis, few options are available for treatment. Casticin, one of the major flavonoids in Fructus Viticis extracts, has shown hepatoprotective potential, but its effects on liver fibrosis are not clear. In this study, we investigated the antifibrotic activity of casticin and its underlying mechanism in vivo and in vitro. Male mice were injected intraperitoneally with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) or underwent bile duct ligation (BDL) to induce liver fibrosis, followed by treatment with casticin or vehicle. In addition, transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1)-activated LX-2 cells were used. In vivo experiments showed that treatment with casticin alone had no toxic effect whi

SUBMITTER: Zhou L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5593560 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature