Introduction The primary cause of death in Schistosomaiasis is the formation of liver egg granulomas and secondary hepatic fibrosis.The pathological basis of Schistosomaiasis is the hosts immune response to the soluble egg antigens secreted by the mature eggs.The Objective of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of artesunate against Sehistosoma japonicum egg induced liver fibrosis.Methods The BALB/c mice model of hepatic fibrosis which infected by cercariae of schistosoma japonicum were randomly divided into 4 groups:Group A as a blank control,Group B as a model,Group C as a insecticide treatment control,Group D as a antifibrotic therapy with artesunate,respectively.Every group hasd 10 mice.Group C and D was orally given praziquantel at a dose of 250mg/(kg.d)for consective 3 days,on 42d after the infection.And then group D administered with artesunate at 30mg/(kg.d)for 14 days of continuous administration on 56d after the infection as antifibrotic therapy.All the mice were killed at the end of the adminisyion.Serum hyaluronic acid(HA),alaninc aminotransferase(ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase(AST)were detected;hydroxyproline in liver tissues was detected;areas of egg granuloma and degrees of hepatic fibrosis were observed via HE and Masson staing;the expressions of TGF-β1mRNA,α-SMA mRNA and VEGF mRNA in liver were detected by RT-PCR.The expressions of VEGF,type Ⅰ and typeⅢ collagen were examined by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with the blank control Group A,the egg granuloma appeared obviously,the collagen deposit and fibrosis occurred in liver tissues of Group B,C,D.The levels of ALT,AsT,HA in sera and HYP in liver tissues were significantly higher(P<0.01).However,the levels of ALT,AST,HA and HYP in the treatment group D were significantly lower than that in the infection group B and insecticide group C(P<0.01),the areas of egg granuloma,the collagen deposits and the degrees of hepatic fibrosis in group D were significantly lower than that in the infection group B and insecticide group C(P < 0.01).The expressions of TGF-β1mRNA,α-SMA mRNA,VEGF rnRNA,VEGF,type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen were decreased in artesunate treatment groups.Conclusion Artesunate has significantly antifibrogenie effect through inhibited the progress on schistosomiasis japonica liver fibrosis,probably by down-regulation the expression of TGF-β1mRNA,α-SMA mRNA,VEGF mRNA,VEGF,type Ⅰ and type Ⅲ collagen protein.