Figures & data
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Figure 1. Flow chart of the preparation process of Curcumae Radix carbonsata carbon dots (CRC-CDs) prepared.
![Figure 1. Flow chart of the preparation process of Curcumae Radix carbonsata carbon dots (CRC-CDs) prepared.](/cms/asset/7a4759f8-e8e4-4923-99bd-94202133c1de/ianb_a_2239522_f0001_c.jpg)
Figure 2. Morphological characterisations of CRC-CDs. (A) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of CRC-CDs displaying ultra-small particles. (B) Particle size distribution histogram of CRC-CDs. (C) High-resolution TEM image of CRC-CDs and lattice spacing of CRC-CDs (in the Middle). (D) X-ray diffraction pattern (E) Ultraviolet-visible spectrum. (F) Fluorescence spectra. (G) Fluorescence spectra of FP-CDs with different excitation wavelengths. (H) Fourier transform infra-red spectrum.
![Figure 2. Morphological characterisations of CRC-CDs. (A) Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images of CRC-CDs displaying ultra-small particles. (B) Particle size distribution histogram of CRC-CDs. (C) High-resolution TEM image of CRC-CDs and lattice spacing of CRC-CDs (in the Middle). (D) X-ray diffraction pattern (E) Ultraviolet-visible spectrum. (F) Fluorescence spectra. (G) Fluorescence spectra of FP-CDs with different excitation wavelengths. (H) Fourier transform infra-red spectrum.](/cms/asset/9ee3d8a5-3dc4-4365-b9a0-f9962b8592c3/ianb_a_2239522_f0002_c.jpg)
Figure 3. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrum of CRC-CDs. (A) The full survey spectrum. High-resolution survey spectra of (B) C 1s, (C) O 1s and (D) N 1s.
![Figure 3. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrum of CRC-CDs. (A) The full survey spectrum. High-resolution survey spectra of (B) C 1s, (C) O 1s and (D) N 1s.](/cms/asset/dc66845a-c2f9-4472-a31a-5cf214a73e76/ianb_a_2239522_f0003_c.jpg)
Figure 5. Effects of CRC-CDs on weight changes in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation. ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.
![Figure 5. Effects of CRC-CDs on weight changes in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation. ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.](/cms/asset/3ccd217b-cd3c-4fd4-9c18-34cd45e334f1/ianb_a_2239522_f0005_c.jpg)
Figure 6. Effects of CRC-CDs on liver weight (A) and liver index (B) in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation. #p < 0.05 and ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.
![Figure 6. Effects of CRC-CDs on liver weight (A) and liver index (B) in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation. #p < 0.05 and ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.](/cms/asset/95ec62e9-b28b-4f0d-ac20-f0873df6e603/ianb_a_2239522_f0006_b.jpg)
Figure 7. Effects of CRC-CDs on the appearance and pathological changes of liver tissue in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. (A) Appearance of liver tissue, (B) HE staining (× 100), (C) Masson staining (× 100), (D) Sirius red staining (× 100). Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4), low dose of CRC- CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H).
![Figure 7. Effects of CRC-CDs on the appearance and pathological changes of liver tissue in mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. (A) Appearance of liver tissue, (B) HE staining (× 100), (C) Masson staining (× 100), (D) Sirius red staining (× 100). Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4), low dose of CRC- CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H).](/cms/asset/54430421-83c2-4806-b084-a28efbfb2dad/ianb_a_2239522_f0007_c.jpg)
Figure 8. Effects of CRC-CDs on the contents of (A) ALT, (B) AST, (C) TBIL, (D) DBIL, (E) TBA, and (F) TG in serum of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.
![Figure 8. Effects of CRC-CDs on the contents of (A) ALT, (B) AST, (C) TBIL, (D) DBIL, (E) TBA, and (F) TG in serum of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.](/cms/asset/2b7cd094-3a8b-4f0a-8db1-dbb9c3078cec/ianb_a_2239522_f0008_b.jpg)
Figure 9. Effects of CRC-CDs on the contents of (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-6 and (C) IL-1β in serum of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.
![Figure 9. Effects of CRC-CDs on the contents of (A) TNF-α, (B) IL-6 and (C) IL-1β in serum of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.](/cms/asset/c3323326-497c-4786-bc84-968f04fd5987/ianb_a_2239522_f0009_b.jpg)
Figure 10. Effects of CRC-CDs on the content of (A) SOD, (B) GSH, and (C) MDA in liver tissue homogenate of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). #p < 0.05 and ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.
![Figure 10. Effects of CRC-CDs on the content of (A) SOD, (B) GSH, and (C) MDA in liver tissue homogenate of mice with carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis. Mice were assigned into seven groups, namely normal control group (NC), CCl4 group (CCl4), silybin + CCl4 group (silybin + CCl4), high dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-H + CCl4, 9.33 mg/kg), medium dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-M + CCl4, 4.67 mg/kg), low dose of CRC-CDs + CCl4 group (CRC-CDs-L + CCl4, 2.34 mg/kg) and high dose of CRC-CDs group (CRC-CDs-H, 9.33 mg/kg). data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). #p < 0.05 and ##p < 0.01 vs. normal control group, *p < 0.05 and **p < 0.01 vs. CCl4 group.](/cms/asset/1f6849cb-b475-431d-b529-409a5e2b3825/ianb_a_2239522_f0010_b.jpg)
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.