Methods for treating or preventing liver fibrosis in a subject by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) are provided. In addition, methods for promoting the reversal of an activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC) to an inactivated HSC by contacting the activated HSC with at least one 3-bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) molecule are also provided.