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Yang Y, Chen Y, Feng D, Wu H, Long C, Zhang J, Wang J, Zhou B, Li S, Xiang S. Ficus hirta Vahl. ameliorates liver fibrosis by triggering hepatic stellate cell ferroptosis through GSH/GPX4 pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 334:118557. [PMID: 39009327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Ficus hirta Vahl., a traditional Chinese medicine commonly used in the Lingnan region, has been extensively used for liver disease treatment in China. Its notable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been reported in previous studies. However, its potential effect and underlying mechanism on liver fibrosis remains unclear. AIM OF STUDY This study was aimed to investigate the effect and its underlying mechanism of Ficus hirta Vahl on liver fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS The main components of Ficus hirta Vahl in blood were investigated by using UPLC-Q/TOF-MS/MS. Two animal models of liver fibrosis, the CCl4 and MCD induced mice, were used to assess the efficacy of Ficus hirta Vahl on liver fibrosis. Metabolomics was used to detect the level of metabolites in the serum of liver fibrosis mice after Ficus hirta Vahl treatment. Furthermore, the mechanism was validated in vitro using the human liver stellate cell line LX-2. The binding affinities of the active ingredients of Ficus hirta Vahl to the main targets of liver fibrosis were also determined. Finally, we identified the key active ingredients responsible for the treatment of liver fibrosis in vivo. RESULTS Fibrosis and inflammatory markers were significant down-regulation in both CCl4 and MCD induced liver fibrosis mice after Ficus hirta Vahl administration in a dose-dependent manner. We found that Ficus hirta Vahl may primarily exert its effect on liver fibrosis through the glutathione metabolic pathway. Importantly, the glutathione metabolic pathway is closely associated with ferroptosis, and our subsequent in vitro experiments provided evidence supporting this association. Ficus hirta Vahl was found to modulate the GSH/GPX4 pathway, ultimately leading to the amelioration of liver fibrosis. Moreover, using serum pharmacochemistry and molecular docking, we successfully identified apigenin as a probable efficacious monomer for the management of liver fibrosis and subsequently validated its efficacy in mice with CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis. CONCLUSION Ficus hirta Vahl triggered the ferroptosis of hepatic stellate cell by regulating the GSH/GPX4 pathway, thereby alleviating liver fibrosis in mice. Moreover, apigenin is a key compound in Ficus hirta Vahl responsible for the effective treatment of liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Yanchun Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Dongge Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China; School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Huixing Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Changrui Long
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, PR China
| | - Jianping Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Jinghao Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China
| | - Benjie Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, PR China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen, 518107, PR China.
| | - Shasha Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, PR China.
| | - Shijian Xiang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, PR China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen, 518107, PR China.
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Niu MY, Dong GT, Li Y, Luo Q, Cao L, Wang XM, Wang QW, Wang YT, Zhang Z, Zhong XW, Dai WB, Li LY. Fanlian Huazhuo Formula alleviates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating autophagy and lipid synthesis signaling pathway. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:3584-3608. [DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i30.3584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fanlian Huazhuo Formula (FLHZF) has the functions of invigorating spleen and resolving phlegm, clearing heat and purging turbidity. It has been identified to have therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in clinical application. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is frequently diagnosed in patients with T2DM. However, the therapeutic potential of FLHZF on NAFLD and the underlying mechanisms need further investigation.
AIM To elucidate the effects of FLHZF on NAFLD and explore the underlying hepatoprotective mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.
METHODS HepG2 cells were treated with free fatty acid for 24 hours to induce lipid accumulation cell model. Subsequently, experiments were conducted with the different concentrations of freeze-dried powder of FLHZF for 24 hours. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8-week to establish a mouse model of NAFLD, and then treated with the different concentrations of FLHZF for 10 weeks.
RESULTS FLHZF had therapeutic potential against lipid accumulation and abnormal changes in biochemical indicators in vivo and in vitro. Further experiments verified that FLHZF alleviated abnormal lipid metabolism might by reducing oxidative stress, regulating the AMPKα/SREBP-1C signaling pathway, activating autophagy, and inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.
CONCLUSION FLHZF alleviates abnormal lipid metabolism in NAFLD models by regulating reactive oxygen species, autophagy, apoptosis, and lipid synthesis signaling pathways, indicating its potential for clinical application in NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yuan Niu
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Geng-Ting Dong
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yi Li
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qing Luo
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Liu Cao
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xi-Min Wang
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qi-Wen Wang
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yi-Ting Wang
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Xi-Wen Zhong
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Wei-Bo Dai
- Pharmacology Laboratory, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Le-Yu Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan 528400, Guangdong Province, China
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Metabolomic Mechanisms of Radix Fici Hirtae against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Damage in Mice. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:9157465. [PMID: 35620409 PMCID: PMC9129960 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9157465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Radix Fici Hirtae (RFH), known as Cantonese ginseng, is an alternative folk medicine that is widely used to treat various diseases in southern China. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect and metabolic mechanisms of pretreatment with RFH on the serum metabolic profiles of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced acute liver injury in mice. Methods Mice fed with the water extract of RFH at a dose of 1.5 g/kg and 0.75 g/kg for consecutive 7 days, and then serum samples were taken for the metabolomic analysis. Furthermore, the bioinformatics and pathways analysis were measured. Results The UHPLC-Orbitrap/MS based-metabolomic analysis identified 20 differential metabolic markers in serum of CCl4-induced liver injury mice compared to that of the normal controls, which were mainly related to the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids. Furthermore, most of these biomarkers contributing to CCl4 induction were ameliorated by RFH, and the bioinformatics and pathways analysis revealed that therapeutic actions of RFH were mainly involved in the regulation of the oxidative stress responses and energy homeostasis. Conclusion These findings provide potential metabolic mechanism for future study and allow for hypothesis generation about the hepatoprotective effects of Radix Fici Hirtae.
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Ficus hirta Vahl. Ameliorates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease through Regulating Lipid Metabolism and Gut Microbiota. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:3474723. [PMID: 35592528 PMCID: PMC9113867 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3474723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has gradually become one of the most serious liver diseases threatening human health in the world. Currently, Chinese herbal medicine is a potentially important treatment option for NAFLD, and the development of effective Chinese herbal medicine has a good prospect. Previous studies have suggested that Ficus hirta Vahl. (FV) has various protective effects on the liver. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic outcomes of FV treatment for the liver disease and its underlying mechanism using HepG2 cell lines induced by palmitate (PA) and mouse model fed with high-fat diet (HFD). FV mainly exerts pharmacological effects by mediating lipid metabolism and inflammation. During the lipid metabolism regulation process, CD36, SREBP-1, SCD1, PPAR γ, ACOX1, and CPT1α are the key factors related to the healing effects of FV on NAFLD. During the inflammation process, the downregulation of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α is involved in alleviation of NAFLD. Furthermore, CD36 overexpression promotes lipid abnormal metabolism and inflammation in PA-induced HepG2 cells, while CD36 knockdown and FV supplementation reverse these responses. In addition, FV also modulates gut microbiota composition, such as Allobaculum, Faecalibaculum, and Butyricicoccus in HFD-fed mice. In summary, our findings demonstrated that FV exerted a beneficial preventive and therapeutic effect on NAFLD by improving lipid metabolism and inflammation as well as regulating the structure of gut microbiota, and therefore, FV may be a candidate for the treatment of NAFLD.
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