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

Figure 3 Effects of various drugs on hepatic fibrogenesis and degradation in rats. A: Hydroxyproline content in rat liver tissue and hyaluronic acid level in serum at 4 weeks and 8 weeks; B: Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 content in rat liver tissues at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Data are shown as mean ± SD (n = 6). BJRG: Biejia Ruangan tablet; Saf: Saffron; Cal b: Calculus bovis; HYP: Hydroxyproline; HA: Hyaluronic acid; TIMP: Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases; MMP: Matrix metalloproteinase. ^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, and ^fP < 0.01 vs saffron and Calculus bovis group.