Protective effect of HV-P411, an herbal mixture, on carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis

This study was performed to examine the anti-fibrotic activity of HV-P411, an herbal mixture of seeds of Vitis vinifera, Schisandra chinensis and Taraxacum officinale extract, against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis. Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (0.5 ml/kg, twice weekly) for 8 weeks. Rats were treated orally with HV-P411 at 50, 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg once a day. After chronic exposure to CCl4, the levels of hydroxyproline were markedly increased; these were significantly reduced by HV-P411 at all dose levels. The level of serum aminotransferases and lipid peroxidation were increased after the CCl4 treatment, while reduced glutathione was decreased. These changes were attenuated by HV-P411. In addition, HV-P411 attenuated CCl4-induced raised serum concentration of transforming growth factor-β1, and the levels of matrix metalloprotease-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 mRNAs. Our results suggest that HV-P411 may prevent liver fibrosis by modulating fibrogenesis and fibrolysis.