Hepatic fibrosis is a key intermediate stage in the progression of various chronic liver diseases to liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has a good effect in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis， but its mechanism of action remains unclear. This article introduces the pathological mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis， including etiology and pathogenesis based on TCM theory and related mechanisms in Western medicine （such as hepatic stellate cell ［HSC］ activation， hepatic fibrosis driven by metabolic reprogramming， and key signaling pathways in hepatic fibrosis）. On this basis， this article analyzes the core mechanisms of TCM in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis， including inhibiting HSC activation and proliferation， suppressing liver inflammation and modulating immunity， counteracting lipid peroxidation damage， regulating the synthesis and secretion of pro-fibrotic factors， maintaining the metabolic balance of extracellular matrix， regulating key signaling pathways， modulating gut microbiota， and inhibiting sinusoidal capillarization， in order to summarize the mechanism of action of TCM in the treatment of hepatic fibrosis and lay a foundation for better developing TCM-based therapeutics for hepatic fibrosis.

OBJECTIVE:To prepare Activated carbon N-acetylcysteine microcapsule (ACNAC),and to optimize preparation technology. METHODS:ACNAC was prepared by emulsion cross-linked method using biodegradable material gelatin as capsule wall material. Using comprehensive evaluation index of drug-loading amount,entrapment rate and particle size distribution percent-age(the percentage of 80-140 μm particle)as index,drug-loading ratio,amount of gelatin,mixing speed and the amount of emul-sifier as factors,single factor test and orthogonal test were used to optimize formulation technology. The technology was validated and distribution of particle size of ACNAC was determined. RESULTS:The optimal formulation technology was as follows as drug-loading ratio 1∶1,gelatin 15%,emulsifier 2.0%,mixing speed 1 000 r/min. Average drug-loading amount of 6 batches of ACNAC was 15.9%(RSD=1.21%),average encapsulation efficiency was 78.1%(RSD=1.11%)and average particle size distri-bution percentage was 81.9%. CONCLUSIONS:ACNAC is prepared successfully,and formulation technology is reasonable and feasible.