Saikosaponin-d alleviates hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway and blocking the EMT process

Figure 2 Saikosaponin-d attenuates hepatic fibrosis progression by inhibiting the transforming growth factor-β1/Smad signaling pathway. A and B: The overall three-dimensional structure of the interaction between silver sulfadiazine molecules and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) protein; C: The overall 2D structure of the interaction between silver sulfadiazine molecules and TGF-β1 protein; D: MRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 in mice from the control (C), carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), and CCl₄ + saikosaponin-d (SSd) groups, n = 6; E: MRNA expression levels of Smad2 in mice from the C, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + SSd groups, n = 6; F: MRNA expression levels of Smad3 in mice from the C, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + SSd groups, n = 6; G: Protein expression levels of TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 in mice from the C, CCl₄, and CCl₄ + SSd groups, n = 4; H: MRNA expression levels of TGF-β1 in LX-2 cells from the control (Con), TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4; I: MRNA expression levels of Smad2 in LX-2 cells from the Con, TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4; J: MRNA expression levels of Smad3 in LX-2 cells from the Con, TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4; K: Protein expression levels of TGF-β1, p-Smad2, and p-Smad3 in LX-2 cells from the Con, TGF-β1, and TGF-β1 + SSd groups, n = 4. C: Control; CCl₄: Carbon tetrachloride; SSd: Saikosaponin-d; TGF-β1: Transforming growth factor-β1.