NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (6): 1153-1160. doi: 10.16333/j.1001-6880.2026.6.001 cstr: 32307.14.1001-6880.2026.6.001

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Total flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus leaves inhibit liver fibrosis by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

WANG Yang1,ZHOU Rui-na1,2,PENG Shu-jie,CHEN Lin1*   

  1. 1Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization,State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation),Shaanxi Innovative Drug Research Center,Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine;2College of Pharmacy,Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine,Xianyang 712083,China
  • Online:2026-06-26 Published:2026-06-24

Abstract:

The effects of total flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus leaves (TFAL) on hepatic fibrosis (HF) in mice were investigated based on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. An HF mouse model was established. Mice were randomly assigned to the control group, model group, silymarin (100 mg/kg) group, and TFAL low-dose (8 mg/kg) or high-dose (20 mg/kg) groups. Treatment continued for 6 weeks. Serum was collected 16 hours after the final dose administration. Liver-to-body weight ratio and spleen-to-body weight ratio were calculated. Serum liver function indicators were measured using a fully automated serum biochemistry analyzer. ELISA kits were employed to detect serum levels of collagen IV (Col IV), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), and procollagen III (PCIII) in mice. Observed hepatic tissue lesions and collagen deposition using HE and Masson staining; Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of protein kinase B (AKT), phosphorylated AKT (p-AKT), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated PI3K (p-PI3K), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in liver tissue. Results showed that TFAL significantly reduced the liver-spleen ratio in HF mice (P<0.05), decreased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, as well as Col IV, HA, LN, and PCⅢ levels (P< 0.05, 0.01, 0.001), improved hepatic cell injury, inflammatory infiltration, and collagen deposition in HF mice, and significantly downregulated the expression of p-AKT, p-PI3K, and α-SMA proteins in liver tissue (P< 0.05, 0.01). In summary, TFAL may exert its protective effects against HF through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Key words: total flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus leaves, hepatic fibrosis, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

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