Active Components from Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) Regulate Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Liver Fibrogenesis

Sea buckthorn ( Hippophae rhamnoides L.) is a berry bearing multiple nutritional properties. In this study, 46 compounds were isolated from sea buckthorn berries. Preliminary data showed that the components, C13, C15, and C32, exhibited profound inhibitory effect on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and decreased the levels of inflammatory factors. Furthermore, these compounds over-regulated the proteins of DNA damage signaling pathway and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Moreover, active components of sea buckthorn berry (ACSB) treatment attenuated fibrosis development in rats after bile duct ligation (BDL), reducing liver injury and inflammation, and reviving liver function in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ACSB down-regulated the expression of α-SMA, while over-regulating the DNA damage signaling pathway and the related genes. These suggest that ACSB inhibit DNA repair of HSCs, make them in a damaged state, inhibit the expression of TGF-β, and induce apoptosis.