RNA-seq-based transcriptome profiling of fruit extract of Brucea javanica (FEBJ) and cynaroside

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing process that occurs in response to chronic liver injury. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been shown to have a significant effect on treating liver fibrosis. We found that the fruit extract of Brucea javanica (FEBJ) suppressed hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition in vitro, and attenuated thioacetamide (TAA)- induced liver fibrosis in zebrafish. Moreover, we identified cynaroside as one of the active compounds of FEBJ that could reproduce its antifibrotic effects in vitro and in vivo. To further investigate the global transcriptome changes of FEBJ and cynaroside, RNA-seq was performed. The results indicated that FEBJ-regulated genes were involved mainly in ECM-remodeling related biological functions, and cynaroside-regulated genes were involved in various biological functions besides ECM-remodeling. LX-2 cells were treated with the fruit extract of Brucea javanica (FEBJ), cynaroside, or DMSO (control group) for 24 hours.