LAUSR

Ginseng has been used as functional foods and tonic for enhancing immune power. Currently, the potential protective effect of 20S-protopanaxatriol (M4), the metabolites of protopanaxatriol, against hepatic fibrosis is investigated, which could supply nutritional interventions for disease treatment. M4 could inhibit extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as caspase1, IL1β, IL1R1 and IL6. M4 also significantly increased the expressions of farnesoid X receptor (FXR), suppressed purinergic ligand-gated ion channel 7 receptor (P2X7r) signaling pathway as well as working as GW4064, an FXR agonist. In thioacetamide (TAA)-induced mice, M4 could attenuate the histopathological changes and significantly regulate the expressions of FXR and P2X7r. M4 ameliorated TAA-induced hepatic fibrosis due to the reduction of P2X7r secrete, inhibition of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and inflammation, which were all associated with FXR activation. Hence, M4 might be a nutritional preventive approach in anti-hepatic fibrosis and anti-hepatic inflammation.