肝纤维化是各种病因导致的损伤后修复与重建的可逆事件，其持续发展将导致肝硬化和肝癌。肠道菌群异常变化可以加速肝纤维化的发展并造成损害。茅腹章（Hemsl.）山崎（VLY）是一种在中国贵州省少数民族地区广泛应用于急慢性肝炎、肝硬化和腹水管理的经典药物，具有广谱的药理活性。鉴于肠道菌群在肝纤维化的发展中起到重要作用，本研究试图调查VLY水提物对CCl4致小鼠肝纤维化的改善作用及其对肠道菌群的影响，并探索其可能的机制。植物化学分析显示，VLY水提物含有多种成分，尤其富含有机酸及其衍生物、黄酮类化合物、酚酸类化合物、核苷酸及其衍生物、碳水化合物和其他化合物。VLY水提物显著减轻了CCl4引起的小鼠肝损伤和纤维化，改善了肝组织学和肝功能异常。VLY水提物还抑制了肝星状细胞的活化和肝内炎症细胞的侵袭。此外，16s rDNA基因测序显示，VLY水提物改变了肝纤维化小鼠的肠道菌群组成。它提高了厚壁菌门/拟杆菌门比值，并丰富了相对乳酸杆菌的丰富度，后者能够减轻受损肝脏的纤维化和炎症。总之，通过调节炎症和肠道菌群，VLY水提物可以减轻CCl4诱导的肝纤维化。版权所有 © 2023. Elsevier B.V.发表。

Liver fibrosis refers to a reversible event of repair and reconstruction following injury due to various etiologies, and its continuous development will lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Abnormal alterations in intestinal microbiota can hasten the development of hepatic fibrosis and damage. Veronicastrum latifolium (Hemsl.) Yamazaki (VLY) is a classic drug applied extensively for managing acute and chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and ascites in ethnic minority areas of Guizhou Province, China, which possesses broad-spectrum pharmacological activities. In view of the crucial role of intestinal microbiota in the development of liver fibrosis, the present study attempted to investigate the effects of VLY aqueous extract on ameliorating CCl4-elicited liver fibrosis in mice and on intestinal microbiota and to explore its possible mechanism. Phytochemical analysis showed that VLY water extract contained a variety of components, particularly rich in organic acids and their derivatives, flavonoids, phenolic acids, nucleotides and their derivatives, carbohydrates and other compounds. VLY water extract remarkably alleviated CCl4-induced liver damage and fibrosis in mice, improved liver histology, and improved liver function abnormalities. VLY water extract also inhibited the activation of hepatic stellate cells and invasion of intrahepatic inflammatory cells. Additionally, sequencing the 16 s rDNA gene revealed that VLY water extract changed the intestinal microbiota composition in liver fibrotic mice. It elevated the Firmicutes/Bacteroidota ratio and enriched the relative Lactobacillus richness, which is capable of mitigating fibrosis and inflammation in impaired liver. In summary, through modulation of inflammation and intestinal microbiota, VLY water extract can reduce the CCl4-elicited liver fibrosis.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.