Suppressive activity of extract of Termialia chebula Retz. on hepatic fibrosis

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is known to be responsible for hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. When round-shape quiescent HSCs go to activation by liver injury, production of extracellular matrix is increased, and its shape becomes myofibroblast-like shape. The activated HSCs are characterized by the high rate of proliferation and the increased production of extracellular matrix. One way of the regeneration of activated HSCs is an apoptosis induction followed by removing the activated myofibroblast-like cells. The effect of extract of Terminalia chebula Retz. (TCE) on cytotoxicity was evaluated using the rat primary hepatocyte, HepG2 and T-HSC/Cl-6 by incubating these cells with TCE up to the dose of 1,000 μg/mL. At the maximum dose of TCE, no cytotoxicity was found on primary hepatocyte and HepG2, but cytotoxic effect of TCE was found on activated HSCs, and T-HSC/Cl-6 in a U-shaped dose-response manner with the highest effect at 500 μg/mL of TCE. Finally, we confirmed the occurrence of apoptotic cell death by annexin-V/PI double staining. The population of annexin-V positive cells was increased in a dose dependent manner.