Objective      To determine the prophylactic effect of total flavone from Litchi chinensis Sonn (TFL) on rats hepatic fibrosis and apoptosis of activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in the livers

and to investigate the relationship between the prophylactic effects and activated HSC.       Methods      A rat model of hepatic fibrosis was established by intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine. TFL was orally given to fibrotic rats at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/(kg·d). Colchicine was used as a positive control. After 6 weeks

all

rats were sacrificed and their left liver lobes were examined histopathologically. The degrees of fibrosis were evaluated by HE and Masson straining. Serum trail levels of hyaluronic acid (HA)

laminin (LN) and procollagen type Ⅲ (PCⅢ) were measured by radioimmunoassay(RIA); TUNEL-α-SMA methods was used to detect the apoptosis of HSC.       Results      Serum trail levels of HA

LN and PCⅢ were significantly lower in the high-dose TFL group and than in the colchicine group (all

P

<

0.05). Degree of hepatic livers in the high-dose group were lesser severe in comparison with those of the control group. The apoptosis rates of HSC were also increased.       Conclusion      TEL inhibits the expression of HA

LN and PCⅢ

induces HSCs apoptosis and attenuates the degree of fibrosis in a dose dependent manner.