Saffron and Calculus bovis combination exerts anti-hepatic fibrotic effect in liver fibrosis rats via the mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway

Figure 2 Effects of the saffron and Calculus bovis treatment on liver function, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress. A and B: Serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and total bilirubin activities; C: Serum tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels; D: Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde concentration in the liver in the indicated groups. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 6). BJRG: Biejia Ruangan tablet; Saf: Saffron; Cal b: Calculus bovis; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; TBIL: Total bilirubin; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; IL: Interleukin; GSH-PX: Glutathione peroxidase; SOD: Superoxide dismutase; MDA: Malondialdehyde. ^aP < 0.001 vs control group, ^bP < 0.05 vs CCl₄ group, ^cP < 0.01 vs CCl₄ group, ^dP < 0.001 vs CCl₄ group, ^eP < 0.05 vs saffron and Calculus bovis group, ^fP < 0.01 vs saffron and Calculus bovis group, and ^gP < 0.001 vs saffron and Calculus bovis group.