Objective: To investigate the effect of drug serum of modified Yinchen Sini Tang on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smads signaling pathways and Collagen3 of TGF-β1-induced rat hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Method: With rat hepatic stellate cells as the study objects

the cells were divided into blank group

model group

positive drug group (methylprednisolone

10%drug serum)

modified Yinchen Sini Tang high dose

middle dose and low dose groups (10%drug serum). All the other rats except those in blank group were given with TGF-β1 (10 g·L-1) and corresponding 10%drug serum culture was used

the effects of the drug serum on protein expression levels of Smad3

Smad7

Collagen3 in HSC-T6 cells were detected by using Western blot assay. Result: As compared with the blank group

protein expression levels of Smad3

Smad7

Collagen3 in HSC-T6 cells were increased in model group

and the increase of Collagen3 expression was more obvious (P < 0.05). As compared with the model group

the protein expression level of Smad3 was significantly decreased in modified Yinchen Sini Tang low dose group (P < 0.05)

the protein expression level of Collagen3 was significantly decreased in modified Yinchen Sini Tang middle dose group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Drug serum of modified Yinchen Sini Tang could down-regulate the protein expression levels of Smad3 and Collagen3

while there was no significant change in Smad7

suggesting that the drug can delay the process of liver fibrosis under the in vitro conditions.