A natural dye long prized for its use in body art and hair coloring may soon find a life-saving purpose in medicine. Scientists from Osaka Metropolitan University have discovered that natural henna, or Lawsonia inermis, contains pigments that could effectively treat liver fibrosis — a chronic and potentially fatal liver disease caused by long-term damage.
Liver fibrosis occurs when scar tissue builds up in the liver following repeated injury or inflammation, often linked to excessive alcohol use or conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). If left untreated, the disease can progress to cirrhosis, liver failure, or even liver cancer. Experts estimate that 3 to 4 percent of the population suffers from advanced forms of the condition, yet treatment options remain limited.
To explore new therapeutic pathways, researchers at the university developed a chemical screening system to identify compounds that directly target activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) — the cells responsible for fibrosis development. Through this system, the team identified Lawsone, a pigment derived from henna, as a potent inhibitor of HSC activation.
In experiments with mice, treatment with Lawsone led to a notable reduction in key markers of liver fibrosis, including YAP, αSMA, and COL1A. The researchers also observed increased levels of cytoglobin, a protein associated with antioxidant activity, suggesting that the diseased cells were reverting to a healthier state.
Dr. Atsuko Daikoku of Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Medicine said the team is now working on a specialized drug delivery system to transport Lawsone-based therapies directly to damaged liver cells. “By controlling fibroblast activity, including HSCs, we could potentially limit or even reverse the effects of fibrosis,” Dr. Daikoku explained.
Liver fibrosis often develops silently, with few or no symptoms in its early stages. When it advances, patients may experience jaundice, fatigue, nausea, appetite loss, fluid retention, or difficulty concentrating.
If successful in future clinical applications, the henna-based compound could become the world’s first treatment capable not just of halting, but also reversing liver fibrosis — turning an age-old cosmetic ingredient into a modern medical breakthrough.
