Study on Effects of Asiaticoside Against Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats

OBJECTIVE To research the effect and mechanism of asiaticoside from Centella asiatica (L.) Urban on rats with hepatic fibrosis. METHODS Hepatic fibrosis model was induced by intracutaneous injection of swine serum. The rats were divided into normal group, model group, γ-interferon group, and asiaticoside group with the dose of 0.9, 0.3, 0.1 g·kg^-1. The content of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in serum and liver hydroxyproline(Hyp) from hepatic tissue were detected. The pathological change of hepatic tissue were observed by HE and Masson staining, and the extent of fibrosis by semi quantitative score were evaluated. RESULTS The levels of ALT, AST in serum and Hyp in liver tissue were decreased obviously by asiaticoside. All asiaticoside groups could reduce the extent of fibrosis, significantly in the high dose group(P<0.01). CONCLUSION Asiaticoside has the raputic effect on immune hepatic fibrosis which shows a dose-dependent manner.