Livistona chinensis Water Extract has the Potential to Repair Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Purpose Liver fibrosis is characterized by the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix, especially collagen, in the liver. Liver fibrosis was initially believed to be irreversible, but currently, various therapeutic strategies or drugs are available for treating liver fibrosis. Livistona chinensis is a natural traditional Chinese medicine, and its fruits and seeds contain flavonoids and phenolic compounds with antioxidant, antihyperlipidemia, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. However, high concentrations of the extract may have toxic effects, limiting its use in pharmaceutical applications. Methods This study evaluated the cell toxicity and anti-inflammatory effect of the water extract of L. chinensis (WELC) and its reparative effect on TAA-induced liver fibrosis in mice. Results The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) of WELC for hepatic stellate cells was 0.35 mg/mL. The IL-6 assay revealed that WELC exhibited a significantly reduced anti-inflammatory effect at a relatively low concentration of 0.2 mg/mL. Moreover, WELC significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels and resulted in the recovery of albumin levels to a range similar to that of the normal group after 4-week treatment. Additionally, WELC treatment significantly alleviated liver fibrosis in both the 2-week and 4-week treatment groups. Notably, mice treated with 0.6 mg/mL WELC for 4 weeks exhibited an almost complete restoration of the collagen area to normal levels, indicating the reversal of liver fibrosis. However, the steatosis in TAA-induced fibrotic livers was not significantly alleviated. Conclusion WELC has the potential to repair TAA-induced liver fibrosis by gradually reducing pericellular fibrosis after the long 4-week treatment period.