Objective: To observe the anti-liver fibrosis effect of Ganlong capsule combined with compound glycyrrhizin glucoside on human hepatic stellate cells by detecting the content of type I collagen (Col-I)

type III procollagen (PCIII)

type IV collagen (IV-C)

laminin (LN)

hyaluronic acid (HA)

transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and expression levels of Col-I

matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor 1 (TIMP-1) mRNA in human hepatic stellate cell line (LX-2). Method: LX-2 cells were cultured in vitro

and the logarithmic phase cells were divided into compound glycyrrhizin glucoside treatment groups (3.125

1.562

0.781 g·L-1)

blank control group

Ganlong capsule (0.938

0.469

0.235 g·L-1) combined with compound glycyrrhizin glucoside (3.125

1.562

0.781 g·L-1) groups. Then enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to detect the content of four markers of liver fibrosis (PCIII

IV-C

LN

HA) and the levels of Col-I and TGF-β1; the expression levels of Col-I and TIMP-1 mRNA were detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). Result: As compared with compound glycyrrhizin glucoside treatment group

combined drug use could decrease the content of Col-I

HA at 24 h and 48 h (P <0.05)

and reduce the content of LN

HA

Col-I

PCIII

TGF-β1 at 72 h (P <0.05). As compared with the blank control group

the combined drug use can significantly decrease the content of TGF-β1 (P <0.05

P <0.01). As compared with compound glycyrrhizin glucoside treatment group

the combined drug use could significantly decrease the expression of TIMP-1 mRNA (P <0.05) in time-dependent manner; and as compared with the blank control group

the combined drug use showed the inhibition effect for Col-I mRNA at 24 h (P <0.05)

but the expression was increased at 72 h. Conclusion: Ganlong capsule combined with compound glycyrrhizin glucoside can decrease the content of LN

HA

Col-I

TGF-β1 and inhibit the expression of Col-I and TIMP-1 in LX-2 cells

and the effect was better than that of compound glycyrrhizin glucoside treatment group. Ganlong capsule could enhance the anti-fibrosis effect in vitro of compound glycyrrhizin glucoside.