Saponara et al. also demonstrated how HE not only reduced protein levels of α-SMA, COL1A1, and Collagen Type 1 Alpha 2 Chain (COL1A2) but also reduced phosphorylation of Small Mother Against decapentaplegic 2 and 3 (SMAD 2/3) involved in the pathway of activation of HSC by Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) (5 ng/mL), suggesting how polyphenol interferes in the pathway of the activation of the aforementioned cells [28]. Here, COL1A1 is linked to hereditary elliptocytosis.