Abstract: Quercetin and praziquantel were used to treat mice with hepatic fibrosis due to Schistosoma japonicum infection. Quercetin treatment obviously relieved the degree of hepatic fibrosis, significantly reduced the expression of immediate early gene, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 （TIMP 1）, typesⅠ and Ⅲ collagen compared to the control. The expression of c-jun mRNA, typeⅠ and type Ⅲ collagen were reduced significantly compared to the group treated with praziquantel, whereas no difference in the expression of c-fos mRNA and TIMP1 between the two groups, indicating that quercetin may have better effect on schistosomal liver fibrosis than praziquantel in the long term.

Key words: Quercetin, Schistosoma japonicum, Liver fibrosis, Immediate early gene, TIMP1