Paper Title
Therapeutic Potential of BACOPA MONNIERI Extract-BACOPASIDE I on Liver Fibrosis in Rat

Abstract
Liver fibrosis is caused by the activation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs) in the liver to secrete excessive and deposition of extracellular matrix. Bacopa monnieri, an herbaceous plant of the scrophulariaceous, containing saponins and glycosides, which with antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and free radical scavenging characteristics. This study was to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri extract (BME) on HSCs and its therapeutic potential in thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. The IC50 of BME was approximately 0.4mg/mL. BME could effectively reduce H2O2-induced HSCs inflammation. Albumin secretion recovered to normal level after treated with BME in liver fibrosis rats. Histological examinations demonstrated that treatment with 3.75 mg/mL BME repaired the fibrotic liver to a normal liver histology after 2-w treatment, lower 1.875 mg/mL BME needed a longer 4-w period to acquire similar repair. The fibrosis related proteins levels, α-SMA and TGF-1 decreased after treated with BME, indicating the therapeutic effect of BME on the liver fibrosis. In summary, we could successfully isolate the Bacopaside I from Bacopa monnieri and exert therapeutic effects on Thioacetamide-induced liver fibrosis in rat. Keywords - anti-inflammatory, Bacopa monnieri, fibrosis, hepatic stellate cells, water extract