Ferulic acid showed anti-fibrotic activity in alcohol and ∆polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA) treated rats by deregulating collagen, TIMPs, and promoting matrix degradation, while its analog methyl ferulic acid (the 4’ hydroxyl group on the benzene ring is replaced by a methoxy group) also attenuated liver fibrosis and HSC activation through the TGF-β1/Smad pathway.34 Here, TGFB1 is linked to Hepatic fibrosis.