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

BACKGROUND Liver fibrosis is a compensatory response to chronic liver injuries, such as viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and metabolic disorders. Despite this, no United States Food and Drug Administration-approved anti-fibrotic drugs are currently available. Saikosaponin-d (SSd) has demonstrated antifibrotic effects, but its impact on the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smads signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during fibrosis remains poorly understood. AIM To in