Objective: To observe the therapeutic effects of Gantai capsules(GTC) on carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) induced liver fibrosis in rats

and investigate its action mechanism. Method: Liver fibrosis in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 for 8 weeks. The SD rats were randomly divided to model group

the positive colchicine group(2 mg·kg-1)

and GTC low dose and high dose groups(230

460 mg·kg-1)

n=12 in each group. In addition

another 12 rats were selected from the same batch as normal group. The rats in normal and model groups were administrated with an equal volume of normal saline

while the rats in other groups were treated with corresponding substances at a given dose byig administration

1 time/day for 4 weeks. At the end of this experiment

all rats were sacrificed

and their blood and liver tissues were obtained for research. The activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) in serum were detected by colorimetry; the levels of hyaluronic acid(HA)

laminin(LN)

procollagen Ⅲ(PC-Ⅲ) and collagen IV(CIV) in serum were detected by ELISA; the contents of hydroxyproline(HyP) in liver tissues were detected after alkali-hydrolysis; the liver tissues were stained by using HE and Masson staining; histopathological changes were observed under optical microscope. Result: As compared with the normal group

the levels of ALT

AST

HA

LN

CⅣ and PCⅢ in serum were significantly increased in model group; content of HyP in liver tissues was significantly increased(P<0.01); the liver pathological injury was obvious with more collagen deposition in the liver tissues. As compared with the model group

the levels of ALT

AST

HA

LN

CⅣ and PCⅢ in serum were significantly decreased in GTC groups(P<0.05

P<0.01); the contents of HyP in liver tissues was decreased(P<0.05

P<0.01). Pathological results showed that GTC could obviously improve the liver pathological injury and reduce collagen deposition in the liver tissues. Conclusion: GTC could effectively attenuate the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats.