Abstract:Objective:To investigate the effects and mechanisms of Shugan Huazheng Decoction in rat liver fibrosis model and hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6). Method:Fifty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into blank group, model group and low-dose (7.38g/kg), medium-dose (14.76g/kg) and high-dose (29.52g/kg) Shugan Huazheng Decoction group and colchicine group (0.2mg/kg), with 8 rats in each group. Rats in the model group and each dosing group were injected intraperitoneally with 40% carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) solution, while each dosing group was given the corresponding dose by gavage daily for 8 weeks. The liver serum biochemical indexes ALT and AST were detected by fully automatic biochemical analyzer; HE and Sirius staining was used to observe the liver tissue injury; ELISA detected the expression levels of α-SMA and Col Ⅰ in liver tissue; Western blot detected the protein expression levels of JAK2, P-JAK2, STAT3, P-STAT3, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α; and RT-qPCR detected the mRNA expression levels of JAK2, STAT3, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in liver tissue. HSC-T6 cells were divided into blank group, model group, drug-containing serum group, inhibitor group and combined group, except blank group, all were induced by LPS, cell viability was detected by CCK-8; α-SMA, Col Ⅰ expression level was detected by ELISA; JAK2, P-JAK2, STAT3, P-STAT3, IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α protein expression level in cells was detected by western blot JAK2, P-JAK2, STAT3, P-STAT3, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α protein expression levels in cells; RT-qPCR detection of JAK2, STAT3, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α mRNA expression levels in cells. Result:Shugan Huazheng Decoction dose-dependently improved liver function and attenuated hepatic fibrosis; the expression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inflammation-related factors were significantly reduced in the positive control group and all Shugan Huazheng Decoction dose groups compared with the model group(P<0.05);Shugan Huazheng Decoction -containing serum significantly down-regulated the expression levels of α-SMA, Col Ⅰ, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inflammation-related factors in LPS-induced HSC-T6 cells(P<0.05).Conclusion:Shugan Huazheng Decoction showed anti-hepatic fibrosis effects in rats in vivo and in vitro, and the mechanism of action was related to the expression of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and inflammation.