Abstract: Objective To investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of cyperus rotundus polysaccharides and the changes of serum matrix metalloproteinase 2（MMP-2）,tissue metalloproteinase inhibitor-2（TIMP-2） and transforming growth factor-beta1（TGF-β1） in rats with bovine serum albumin（BSA）-induced hepatic fibrosis. Methods 60 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model group,colchicine group （0.1 mg·kg^-1）,large dose of polysaccharide group （200 mg·kg^-1）,middle dosage group （100 mg·kg^-1） and low-dose polysaccharide group （50 mg·kg^-1）. The rats were intragastrically given cyperus rotundus polysaccharide, colchicine or normal saline for 60 days. After the last administration,the blood was obtained by through abdominal aorta, sera were collected and the liver tissues were taken. Serum levels of MMP-2,TIMP-2 and TGF-β1 were measured by ELISA and the pathological changes of liver tissues were observed in each group. Results Serum levels of ALT,AST,TP and ALB in large dose group,middle dose group and low dose group were significantly decreased（P<0.05）,and serum levels of LN,HA,PC-Ⅲ and Ⅳ-C were significantly reduced as compared with in the model group （P<0.05）;serum MMP-2 levels in the large,middle and low dose groups were （221.58±23.76） ng/mL,（291.12 ± 29.35） ng/mL,and（375.14±38.21） ng/mL,serum TIMP-2 levels were （161.89±16.12） μg/ml,（180.34±17.12） μg/ml,and （266.56±19.34） μg/ml,and serum levels of TGF-β1 were（206.23±21.45） ng/mL,（251.53±26.10） ng/mL,and（302.09±31.21） ng/mL,respectively,all being obviously improved as compared to those in the model group（P<0.05）;histopathological examination results showed that the liver fibrosis of the rats in the large,middle and low dose groups were significantly alleviated as compared with in the model group. Conclusion The cyperus rotundus polysaccharides has a good effect on hepatic fibrosis,and the mechanism by which it works might be related to the restored inbalance of serum MMP-2 and TIMP-2 and decreased TGF-β1 in rats with hepatic fibrosis.

Key words: Liver fibrosis, Cyperus rotundus polysaccharide, Anti-fibrotic effects, Rats