Mechanism of the anti-liver fibrosis effect of Periplaneta americana extracts that promote apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells through the Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway

[Display omitted] •PA-B induced HSC-T6 cell apoptosis by inhibiting proliferation.•PA-B reduced mitochondrial membrane potential.•PA-B ameliorated apoptosis-related protein expression.•PA-B (120 mg/kg) significantly alleviated CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis injury.•PA-B reduced the aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels. Periplaneta americana L. (Blattidae) extract (PA-B) possesses anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties; however, its mechanism of action in liver fibrosis remains unclear. Herein, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of action of PA-B. HSC-T6 cells treated with PA-B were stimulated with TGF-β1, and immunofluorescence, western blotting, Hoechst 33,342 staining, confocal laser scanning microscopy, and flow cytometry were performed. Furthermore, the effects of PA-B were verified in a rat model of hepatic fibrosis established using 40 % carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). PA-B induced apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells by inhibiting proliferation (maximum inhibition ratio 99.08 %), reducing mitochondrial membrane potential, and ameliorating apoptosis-related proteins (P