TGFB1 and Hepatic fibrosis: In carbon tetrachloride/ethanol-induced liver fibrosis rats, rhein downregulated the levels of serum ALT, hyalauronic acid, procollagen type III, and liver malondialdehyde (MDA), upregulated the liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) level, and inhibited the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), the collagen staining positive area and the grade of fibrosis in the liver [2].