Objective  To investigate the effect of total saponins of panax notoginseng (PNS) on the production of collagen Ⅰ

Ⅲ and TGF-β

1

in rats with experimental fibrosis.   Methods  Experimental fibrosis model was copied by intracutaneous injection of BSA and rats feeding on diet rich in lipid. From the 1st day after BSA injection

SPN (60 or 30 mg/kg) or Colchicine were given intracutaneously once a day for 42 days. All animals were sacrificed on the 43rd day. Their hepatic function was evaluated by determining the levels of ALT

AST

ALB in serum. The progression of hepatic fibrosis was confirmed by pathological analysis. Then type collagenⅠ

Ⅲ and TGF-β

1

were observed with immunohistochemical method.   Results  The BSA injection significantly elevated the levels of ALT and AST

while SPN treatment significantl

y down-regulated them. But the level of ALB was opposite to that of ALT or AST in SPN treatment group. The positive staining of the collagenⅠ

Ⅲ and TGF-β

1

was stronger in hepatic fibrosis model group than in SPN treatment group. The contents of the collagen were identical to the immunohistochemical results.   Conclusion  SPN has the protective effect against liver fibrosis.