Abstract: Objective: To investigate whether mulberry leaf alkaloids can improve hepatic fibrosis by influencing the antioxidant defense indicators and inflammatory cytokines in mice for the purpose of providing a theoretical rationale for the scientific utilization of mulberry leaves. Methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 10% CCl4 in olive oil at a dose of 5 mL/kg mb every other day combined with a high-fat diet for 8 consecutive weeks. The mice in the control group were injected with an equal volume of olive oil without CCl4 and treated with a normal diet. After successful model establishment, the mice were intragastrically treated with mulberry leaf alkaloids at 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg mb or a positive drug (100 mg/kg mb silibinin) for 45 days, while those in the control and model groups received an equal volume of distilled water. Results: Compared the control group, the mice from the model group showed hepatic damage as evidenced by histological changes and an elevation in oxidative stress and inflammation levels. These pathophysiological changes were attenuated by mulberry leaf alkaloids at each dose. Compared with the model group, 200 mg/kg?mb mulberry leaf alkaloids significantly decreased the contents of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and hydroxyproline (HYP) in liver and the plasma concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) by 53.85%, 41.67%, 28.81% and 33.60%, respectively (P < 0.05); increased the plasma levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) by 136.83%, 45.14% and 78.13%, respectively (P < 0.05); and reduced the plasma levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 by 9.96%, 11.06% and 10.02%, respectively (P < 0.05). These results were consistent with the Masson staining results. Conclusion: Mulberry leaf alkaloids can improve hepatic fibrosis possibly associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

Key words: mulberry leaf alkaloids; hepatic fibrosis; antioxidant; anti-inflammatory