Protective effects of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice

Figure 1 Effect of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract on organ indexes in hepatic fibrosis mice. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 20). ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the CCl₄-treated group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the CCl₄-treated group. a: Normal group; b: Solvent group + CCl₄; c: CCl₄-treated group; d, e, f and g: FVRB treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); h: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 2 Effect of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract on alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and triglyceride activities in CCl₄-treated mice. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 20). ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the CCl₄-treated group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the CCl₄-treated group. a: Normal group; b: Solvent group + CCl₄; c: CCl₄-treated group; d, e, f and g: FVRB treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); h: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 3 Effect of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract on malondialdehyde, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels in CCl₄-treated mice. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 20). ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the CCl₄-treated group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the CCl₄-treated group. a: Normal group; b: Solvent group + CCl₄; c: CCl₄-treated group; d, e, f and g: FVRB treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); h: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 4 Effect of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract on serum hexadecenoic acid and laminin levels in mice. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 20). ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the CCl₄-treated group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the CCl₄-treated group. a: Normal group; b: Solvent group + CCl₄; c: CCl₄-treated group; d, e, f and g: Foeniculum vulgare root bark (FVRB) treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); h: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 5 H and E staining (× 400) of the liver sections of mice. A: Normal control group; B: Solvent group + CCl₄; C: CCl₄-treated group; D-G: Foeniculum vulgare root bark (FVRB) treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); H: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 6 Masson trichrome staining (× 400) of the liver sections of mice. A: Normal control group; B: Solvent group + CCl₄; C: CCl₄-treated group; D-G: FVRB treatment groups (88, 176, 352and 704 mg/kg, respectively); H: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 7 Immunohistochemical examination (× 400) of transforming growth factor β1 expression in liver tissues of mice. A: Normal group; B: Solvent group + CCl₄; c: CCl₄-treated group; D-G: Foeniculum vulgare root barks (FVRB) treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); H: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 8 Immunohistochemical examination (× 400) of matrix metalloprotein 9 expression in liver tissues of mice. A: Normal control group; B: Solvent group + CCl₄; C: CCl₄-treated group; D-G: Foeniculum vulgare root bark (FVRB) treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); H: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 9 Immunohistochemical examination (× 400) of metallopeptidase inhibitor 1 expression in liver tissues of mice. A: Normal control group; B: Solvent group + CCl₄; C: CCl₄-treated group; D-G: Foeniculum vulgare root bark (FVRB) treatment groups (88, 176, 352 and 704 mg/kg, respectively); H: Yiganling Pian + CCl₄.

Figure 10 Effect of Foeniculum vulgare root bark extract on the expression of transforming growth factor-β1 and α-SMA proteins. ^bP < 0.01 vs the normal control group; ^cP < 0.05 vs the CCl₄-treated group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the CCl₄-treated group. TGF-β: Transforming growth factor β; α-SMA: Alpha-smooth muscle actin.