BACKGROUND: Our aim was to study the effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on iNOS and cystathionine gamma-lyase (CSE) of hepatic fibrosis rat, and discuss the anti-hepatic fibrosis mechanism of caffeic acid phenethyl ester.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We observed changes of NO and H2S in serum of hepatic fibrosis rats. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to test OD value of iNOS and CSE in serum of each. The expressions of iNOS and CSE protein in the liver were also detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS: Compared with the model group, the expression of NO and iNOS was decreased obviously and the level of H2S and CSE was increased in the CAPE group.

CONCLUSIONS: CAPE has the effect of anti-hepatic fibrosis, which can be realized through adjusting the expression level of iNOS and CSE.

Keywords: Caffeic Acids - chemistry, Cystathionine gamma-Lyase - metabolism, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic, Hydrogen Sulfide - chemistry, Liver - metabolism, Liver Cirrhosis - drug therapy, Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II - metabolism, Phenylethyl Alcohol - chemistry