Objective: To observe the effects of Dedu Honghua-7 powder and its optimized prescriptions on mRNA expression of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen in rats with liver fibrosis. Method: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

positive group

original drug group and optimized prescription group. The liver fibrosis models were induced by abdominal cavity injection of olive oil solution containing 30% of CCl4.At the same time

drugs were given 1 time/day by intragastrical administration. Rats in positive group received 0.4 mg ·kg-1 of colchicine pill; rats in the original drug group received 0.6 g ·kg-1 of Dedu Honghua-7 powder; rats in optimized prescription group received 0.6 g ·kg-1 of Dedu Honghua-7 powder optimized product. The rats were sacrificed after 40 days of treatment. The livers were picked out for picrosirius red staining to observe fibrosis degree of liver tissues and type Ⅰ

Ⅲ collagen classifications. ELISA assay was applied to detect the levels of type Ⅲ procollagen

type Ⅳ collagen

hyaluronic acid(HA) and laminin(LN) in liver tissue homogenate. The real-time qPCR was used to detect changes in mRNA expression of type Ⅰ collagen and type Ⅲ collagen. Result: In picrosirius red staining

the levels of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagenous fibersin model group were higher than those in normal group; the levels of type Ⅰ

Ⅲ collagenous fibersin positive group

original drug group and optimized prescription group were lower than those in model group. In ELISA assay

the levels of type Ⅳ collagen and HA in model group werehigher than those in normal group (P<0.05). The levels of type Ⅲ procollagen

type Ⅳ collagen

and HA contents in positive group

original drug group

and optimized prescription group were lower than those in model group (P<0.05). In real-time qPCR method

mRNA expressions of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen in model group were higher than those in normal group (P<0.01).The mRNA expressions of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen in positive group

original drug group and optimized prescription group were lower rhan those in model group (P<0.01). The mRNA expressions of type Ⅰ collagen in original drug group and optimized prescription group were lower than those in positive group (P<0.05). The mRNA expression of type Ⅰ collagen in optimized prescription group was lower than that in original drug group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Dedu Honghua-7 powder and its optimized prescription can block or delay the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis by inhibiting the mRNA transcription of type Ⅰ

Ⅲ collagen

and the efficacy of optimized prescription is better than that of original powder.