OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of genistein on the proliferation and lipid peroxidation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro and its the protective effect against hepatic fibrosis.

METHODSRat hepatic stellate cells (HSC-T6 cells) were divided into 3 groups and incubated in the presence of 0.1 mol/L hydrogen dioxide followed by washing with PBS for 3 times. Genistein at different concentrations was added into the cell culture meclia, and after 48 h of incubation, the cell proliferation was assessed with MTT assay and the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonaldehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in the supernatant of the cell culture were measured.

RESULTSGenistein at different concentrations inhibited the cell proliferation, showing a dose-effect relationship. Genistein significantly decreased the production of intracellular MDA and GSH and increased SOD and GSH PX activity.

CONCLUSIONGenistein can prevent the formation of hepatic fibrosis probably by decreasing HSC proliferation and lipid peroxidation.