Xiaoyaosan (Tiaogan-Liqi therapy) protects peritoneal macrophages from corticosterone-induced stress by regulating the interaction between glucocorticoid receptor and ABCA1

Decursin ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis by facilitating ferroptosis of hepatic stellate cells

Decursin possesses the potential to alleviate transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation. However, the mechanisms by which decursin alleviates hepatic fibrosis remain not fully understood. Our aim is to explore the function of decursin on regulating HSCs activation and hepatic fibrosis. The anti-fibrotic effect of decursin was evaluated by Masson and Sirius red staining, and immunohistochemical (IHC) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis for alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen types I (Col1a1) expression. Ferroptosis was assessed by measuring iron concentration, glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and Prostaglandin endoperoxide synthase 2 (Ptgs2) expression, glutathione (GSH) level, lipid peroxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. We found that decursin treatment decreased CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. The primary HSCs isolated from decursin-treated group showed an increased Fe2+, lipid ROS level, and decreased Gpx4 and GSH levels compared with HSCs from model group. Moreover, decursin promoted ferroptosis in activated HSCs in vitro, as evidenced by declined Gpx4 and GSH levels, increased Fe2+, ROS, and Ptgs2 levels compared with control. More important, ferroptosis inhibitor destroyed the anti-fibrosis effect of decursin on HSCs. In summary, these data suggest that decursin has potential to treat hepatic fibrosis.