Saffron and <i>Calculus bovis</i> combination exerts anti-hepatic fibrotic effect in liver fibrosis rats <i>via</i> the mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway

These findings demonstrate that Saf-Cal b combination therapy is more effective than either monotherapy in alleviating liver fibrosis, with its therapeutic effect mediated through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases/transforming growth factor-β/small mother against decapentaplegic signaling axis, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for liver fibrosis.