Objective: To observe the effects of phenolic alkaloids of Menispermum dauricum(PAMD) on CCl4 induce hepatic fibrosisin rats and investigate its action mechanism. Method: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group

model group

colchicine group(1 mg·kg-1)

PAMD high-dose group(25 mg·kg-1). PAMD medial-dose group(12.5 mg·kg-1) and PAMD low-dose group(6.25 mg·kg-1). Intraperitoneal injection of 40% CCl4(1 mL·kg-1) was used to induce hepatic fibrosis models in the rats. All the rats received the same volume of drugs or normal saline by intragastric administration for 30 days. The radioimmunoassay was used to determine the levels of hyaluronic acid(HA)

laminin(LN)

procollagen Ⅲ(PCⅢ) and collagen Ⅳ(CⅣ) in serum. The biochemical analysis was used to determine the levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase(AST)

total protein(TP) and album protein(ALB) in serum. The enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay(ELISA) was applied to detect the levels of transforming growth factor-β1(TGF-β1) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in the liver tissues. Morphology of liver tissues was observed by optical electron microscopy

and the organ coefficients of liver and spleen were calculated then. Result: As compared with the normal group

the levels of HA

LN

PCⅢ

CIV

ALT and AST in serum were significantly increased in the serum of model group(P<0.05); levels of TP and ALB in serum were significantly decreased(P<0.05); levels of TGF-β1 and TNF-α in the liver tissues were significantly increased(P<0.05); the liver pathological fibrosis was aggravated significantly; organ coefficients of liver and spleen were significantly increased(P<0.05). As compared with the model group

the levels of HA

LN

PC-Ⅲ

CIV

ALT and AST in serum were significantly decreased in PAMD high-dose group and PAMD medial-dose group(P<0.05); the levels of TP and ALB in serum were significantly increased(P<0.05); levels of TGF-β1 and TNF-α in the liver tissues were significantly decreased(P<0.05); the liver pathological fibrosis was obviously relieved; organ coefficients of liver and spleen were significantly decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion: PAMD could attenuate the CCI4-induced immunological liver injury and the fibrosis level in rats. The mechanisms possibly contribute to down-regulating the expression levels of TGF-β1 and TNF-α proteins in liver tissues of rats.