ArticleCurrent medicinal chemistry2026
Icaritin Attenuates HSC Activation by Down-regulating the HIF-1α and TGF-β/Smad Signaling Pathways to Ameliorate Liver Fibrosis.
Article in Current medicinal chemistry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The therapeutic potential of epimedium and its bioactive flavonoids in hepatitis and cirrhosis: an integrative review.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Review
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Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionIcaritin is a bioactive flavonol isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Epimedium. The comprehensive understanding of antifibrotic effects and associated molecular mechanisms of icaritin remains incomplete. This study aims to explore the protective effects of icaritin against liver fibrosis and to further elucidate the mechanisms involved.
methodsHuman hepatic stellate LX-2 cells stimulated with TGF-β1 and a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis mouse model were employed. In vitro assays were carried out to evaluate collagen type I (COL I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, while in vivo studies assessed fibrosis alleviation. Molecular mechanisms were explored via analysis of TGF-β1, phosphorylated Smad2/3, and HIF-1α protein levels using Western blotting.
resultsIcaritin suppressed TGF-β1-induced COL I and α-SMA expression in LX-2 cells and ameliorated liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated mice. Mechanistically, it significantly reduced TGF-β1 levels, inhibited Smad2/3 phosphorylation, and downregulated HIF-1α protein expression in LX-2 cells.
conclusionIcaritin attenuated experimental liver fibrosis through the inhibition of the TGF-β/Smad and HIF-1α signaling pathways, highlighting its therapeutic potential for fibrotic liver diseases.
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