The protective effects of flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus on carbon tetrachloride induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of FAC in hepatic fibrosis (HF) and the underlined mechanism. Methods: Using KM mice subjected to CCl₄-induced HF. At the end of the experiment, the tissues of liver were removed for histopathological examination and SOD, MDA, HYP assays. The expressions of PPARγ were detected by immunohistochemistry. Result: we found that administration of FAC significantly reduced the tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxypmline (HYP) contents, and also significantly increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities compared with model group. As shown in transmission electron microscope and pathological section. FAC treatment could protect hepatocyte in HF mice. Furthermore, it enhanced the expression of peroxisome proliferator -activated receptors γ ( PPARγ).