Protective effects of ginsenoside Rk3 against chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in mice through inhibition of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis

Ginseng fermentation solution affects the gut microbiota in zebrafish with alcoholic liver disease via PI3K/Akt pathway

BACKGROUND

Ginsenosides have received increased amounts of attention due to their ability to modulate the intestinal flora, which may subsequently alleviate alcoholic liver disease (ALD). The effects of ginseng fermentation solution (GFS) on the gut microbiota and metabolism in ALD patients have not been explored.

PURPOSE

This research aimed to explore the regulatory effect of GFS on ALD both in vitro and in vivo.

METHOD

This study assessed the anti-ALD efficacy of GFS using an LO2 cell model and a zebrafish model. Untargeted metabolomics was used for differentially abundant metabolite analysis, and high-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing was used to examine the effect of GFS on ALD.

RESULTS

The LO2 cell line experiments demonstrated that GFS effectively mitigated alcohol-induced oxidative stress and reduced apoptosis by upregulating PI3K and Bcl-2 expression and decreasing the levels of malondialdehyde, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. In zebrafish, GFS improved morphological and physiological parameters and diminished oxidative stress-induced ALD. Meanwhile, the results from Western blotting indicated that GFS enhanced the expression of PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2 proteins while reducing Bax protein expression, thereby ameliorating the ALD model in zebrafish. Metabolomics data revealed significant changes in a total of 46 potential biomarkers. Among them, metabolites such as prostaglandin F2 alpha belong to arachidonic acid metabolism. In addition, GFS also partly reversed the imbalance of gut microbiota composition caused by alcohol. At the genus level, alcohol consumption elevated the presence of Flectobacillus, Curvibacter, among others, and diminished Elizabethkingia within the intestinal microbes of zebrafish. Conversely, GFS reversed these effects, notably enhancing the abundance of Proteobacteria and Archaea. Correlation analyses further indicated a significant negative correlation between prostaglandin F2 alpha, 11,14,15-THETA, Taurocholic acid and Curvibacter.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights a novel mechanism by which GFS modulates anti-ALD activity through the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway by influencing the intestinal flora-metabolite axis. These results indicate the potential of GFS as a functional food for ALD treatment via modulation of the gut flora.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies

Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD) is characterized by the accumulation of lipids in liver cells owing to the metabolism of ethanol. This process leads to a decrease in the NAD+/NADH ratio and the generation of reactive oxygen species. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to investigate the role of oxidative stress in AFLD. A total of 201 eligible manuscripts were included, which revealed that animals with AFLD exhibited elevated expression of CYP2E1, decreased enzymatic activity of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced levels of the transcription factor Nrf2, which plays a pivotal role in the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, animals with AFLD exhibited increased levels of lipid peroxidation markers and carbonylated proteins, collectively contributing to a weakened antioxidant defense and increased oxidative damage. The liver damage in AFLD was supported by significantly higher activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferase enzymes. Moreover, animals with AFLD had increased levels of triacylglycerol in the serum and liver, likely due to reduced fatty acid metabolism caused by decreased PPAR-α expression, which is responsible for fatty acid oxidation, and increased expression of SREBP-1c, which is involved in fatty acid synthesis. With regard to inflammation, animals with AFLD exhibited elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-a, IL-1β, and IL-6. The heightened oxidative stress, along with inflammation, led to an upregulation of cell death markers, such as caspase-3, and an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Overall, the findings of the review and meta-analysis indicate that ethanol metabolism reduces important markers of antioxidant defense while increasing inflammatory and apoptotic markers, thereby contributing to the development of AFLD.

Functional Food Chemical Ingredient Strategies for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Hepatic Fibrosis: Chemical Properties, Health Benefits, Action, and Application

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The liver is an important digestive gland in the body. Lifestyle and dietary habits are increasingly damaging our liver, leading to various diseases and health problems. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the most serious liver disease problems in the world. Diet is one of the important factors in maintaining liver health. Functional foods and their components have been identified as novel sources of potential preventive agents in the prevention and treatment of liver disease in daily life. However, the effects of functional components derived from small molecules in food on different types of liver diseases have not been systematically summarized.

RECENT FINDINGS

The components and related mechanisms in functional foods play a significant role in the development and progression of NAFLD and liver fibrosis. A variety of structural components are found to treat and prevent NAFLD and liver fibrosis through different mechanisms, including flavonoids, alkaloids, polyphenols, polysaccharides, unsaturated fatty acids, and peptides. On the other hand, the relevant mechanisms include oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune regulation, and a large number of literature studies have confirmed a close relationship between the mechanisms. The purpose of this article is to examine the current literature related to functional foods and functional components used for the treatment and protection against NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis, focusing on chemical properties, health benefits, mechanisms of action, and application in vitro and in vivo. The roles of different components in the biological processes of NAFLD and liver fibrosis were also discussed.

Ginsenoside RK3 promotes neurogenesis in Alzheimer's disease through activation of the CREB/BDNF pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In the ancient book "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic," Panax ginseng CA Mey was believed to have multiple benefits, including calming nerves, improving cognitive function, and promoting longevity. Ginsenosides are the main active ingredients of ginseng. Ginsenoside RK3 (RK3), a rare ginsenoside extracted from ginseng, displays strong pharmacological potential. However, its effect on neurogenesis remains insufficiently investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to investigate whether RK3 improves learning and memory by promoting neurogenesis, and to explore the mechanism of RK3 action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The therapeutic effect of RK3 on learning and memory was determined by the Morris water maze (MWM) and novel object recognition test (NORT). The pathogenesis and protective effect of RK3 on primary neurons and animal models were detected by immunofluorescence and western blotting. Protein expression of cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway was detected by western blotting.

RESULTS

Our results showed that RK3 treatment significantly improved cognitive function in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 (APP/PS1) mice and C57BL/6 (C57) mice. RK3 promotes neurogenesis and synaptogenesis in the mouse hippocampus. In vitro, RK3 prevents Aβ-induced injury in primary cultured neurons and promotes the proliferation of PC12 as well as the expression of synapse-associated proteins. Mechanically, the positve role of RK3 on neurogenesis was combined with the activation of CREB/BDNF pathway. Inhibition of CREB/BDNF pathway attenuated the effect of RK3.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that RK3 promotes learning and cognition in APP/PS1 and C57 mice by promoting neurogenesis and synaptogenesis through the CREB/BDNF signaling pathway. Therefore, RK3 is expected to be further developed into a potential drug candidate for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Kefir Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury Through Modulating Gut Microbiota and Fecal Bile Acid Profile in Mice

SCOPE

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the leading cause of liver-related deaths worldwide. Kefir has been studied for its properties of anti-obesity, rebuilding intestinal homeostasis, and alleviating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the possible role of kefir in the prevention or treatment of ALD has not been carefully considered. Here, it evaluated the protective effects of kefir supplementation on alcohol-induced liver injury.

METHODS AND RESULTS

C57BL/6J mice are fed to Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet containing alcohol to build ALD mouse model, followed by oral administration with kefir. Results indicate that kefir treatment improves liver pathological changes, decreases the expression levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and inflammatory markers, and increases antioxidant levels. Kefir supplementation also restores the intestinal barrier and altered microbial composition, indicates as increases of Blautia, Bacteroides, and Parasutterella and decreases in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and populations of Psychrobacter, Bacillus, and Monoglobus. Moreover, kefir supplementation decreases the levels of total bile acids (BAs) and primary BAs and increases the secondary/primary BA ratio. Gut microbes play a key role in the conversion of primary to secondary fecal BAs.

CONCLUSION

Kefir can ameliorate ALD through regulating the composition of the gut microbiota.

Vitamin D deficiency exacerbates alcohol-related liver injury via gut barrier disruption and hepatic overload of endotoxin

Endogenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that translocates via the disrupted intestinal barrier plays an essential role in the progression of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD). Vitamin D deficiency is observed in ALD, and it participates in regulating gut barrier function. The current study aimed to examine the association between vitamin D deficiency and endotoxemia in patients with ALD-related cirrhosis. Moreover, the effect of vitamin D deficiency on ethanol (EtOH)- and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver injury relevant to gut barrier disruption in mice was investigated. Patients with ALD-related cirrhosis (Child-Pugh Class A/B/C; n=56/15/7) had lower 25(OH)D levels and higher endotoxin activities than non-drinking healthy controls (n=19). The serum 25(OH)D levels were found to be negatively correlated with endotoxin activity (R=-0.481, P<.0001). The EtOH/CCl4-treated mice developed hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, which were significantly enhanced by vitamin D-deficient diet. Vitamin D deficiency enhanced gut hyperpermeability by inhibiting the intestinal expressions of tight junction proteins including ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-2/5/12/15 in the EtOH/CCl4-treated mice. Consequently, it promoted the accumulation of lipid peroxidases, increased the expression of NADPH oxidases, and induced Kupffer cell infiltration and LPS/toll-like receptor 4 signaling-mediated proinflammatory response. Based on the in vitro assay, vitamin D-mediated vitamin D receptor activation inhibited EtOH-stimulated paracellular permeability and the downregulation of tight junction proteins via the upregulation of caudal-type homeobox 1 in Caco-2 cells. Hence, vitamin D deficiency exacerbates the pathogenesis of ALD via gut barrier disruption and hepatic overload of LPS.

Amelioration of Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury via Attenuating Oxidative Damage and Modulating Inflammation by Means of Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Zein Nanoparticles

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been broadly adopted for the clinical treatment of hepatic and biliary diseases; however, its poor water-solubility becomes an obstacle in wide applications. To overcome these challenges, herein, a two-tier UDCA-embedded system of zein nanoparticles (NPs) along with a polyelectrolyte complex was designed under facile conditions. Both the UDCA-zein NPs and their inclusion microcapsules showed a spherical shape with a uniform size. A typical wall plus capsule/core structure was formed in which UDCA-zein NPs distributed evenly in the interior. The UDCA inclusion microcapsules had an encapsulation rate of 67% and were released in a non-Fickian or anomalous transport manner. The bioavailability and efficacy of UDCA-zein NPs were assessed in vivo through the alcoholic liver disease (ALD) mouse model via intragastric administration. UDCA-zein NPs ameliorated the symptoms of ALD mice remarkably, which were mainly exerted through attenuation of antioxidant stress levels. Meanwhile, it notably upregulated the intestinal tight junction protein expression and improved and maintained the integrity of the mucosal barrier effectively. Collectively, with the improvement of bioavailability, the UDCA-zein NPs prominently alleviated the oxidative damage induced by alcohol, modulating the inflammation so as to restore ALD. It is anticipated that UDCA-zein NPs have great therapeutic potential as sustained-nanovesicles in ALD treatment.

Anti-thrombotic effects of ginsenoside Rk3 by regulating cAMP and PI3K/MAPK pathway on human platelets

Background and objective

The ability to inhibit aggregation has been demonstrated with synthetically derived ginsenoside compounds G-Rp (1, 3, and 4) and ginsenosides naturally found in Panax ginseng 20(S)-Rg3, Rg6, F4, and Ro. Among these compounds, Rk3 (G-Rk3) from Panax ginseng needs to be further explored in order to reveal the mechanisms of action during inhibition.

Methodology

Our study focused to investigate the action of G-Rk3 on agonist-stimulated human platelet aggregation, inhibition of platelet signaling molecules such as fibrinogen binding with integrin αIIbβ3 using flow cytometry, intracellular calcium mobilization, dense granule secretion, and thromboxane B2 secretion. In addition, we checked the regulation of phosphorylation on PI3K/MAPK pathway, and thrombin-induced clot retraction was also observed in platelets rich plasma.

Key Results

G-Rk3 significantly increased amounts of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and led to significant phosphorylation of cAMP-dependent kinase substrates vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R). In the presence of G-Rk3, dense tubular system Ca2+ was inhibited, and platelet activity was lowered by inactivating the integrin αIIb/β3 and reducing the binding of fibrinogen. Furthermore, the effect of G-Rk3 extended to the inhibition of MAPK and PI3K/Akt phosphorylation resulting in the reduced secretion of intracellular granules and reduced production of TXA2. Lastly, G-Rk3 inhibited platelet aggregation and thrombus formation via fibrin clot.

Conclusions and implications

These results suggest that when dealing with cardiovascular diseases brought upon by faulty aggregation among platelets or through the formation of a thrombus, the G-Rk3 compound can play a role as an effective prophylactic or therapeutic agent.

Natural products modulate NLRP3 in ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a clinically common, progressive, devastating, chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that is recurrent and difficult to treat. Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) is a protein complex composed of multiple proteins whose formation activates cysteine aspartate protease-1 (caspase-1) to induce the maturation and secretion of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, promoting the development of inflammatory responses. Recent studies have shown that NLRP3 is associated with UC susceptibility, and that it maintains a stable intestinal environment by responding to a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. The mainstay of treatment for UC is to control inflammation and relieve symptoms. Despite a certain curative effect, there are problems such as easy recurrence after drug withdrawal and many side effects associated with long-term medication. NLRP3 serves as a core link in the inflammatory response. If the relationship between NLRP3 and gut microbes and inflammation-associated factors can be analyzed concerning its related inflammatory signaling pathways, its expression status as well as specific mechanism in the course of IBD can be elucidated and further considered for clinical diagnosis and treatment of IBD, it is expected that the development of lead compounds targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome can be developed for the treatment of IBD. Research into the prevention and treatment of UC, which has become a hotbed of research in recent years, has shown that natural products are rich in therapeutic means, and multi-targets, with fewer adverse effects. Natural products have shown promise in treating UC in numerous basic and clinical trials over the past few years. This paper describes the regulatory role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in UC and the mechanism of recent natural products targeting NLRP3 against UC, which provides a reference for the clinical treatment of this disease.

Ginsenosides in cancer: Targeting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Despite the existence of extensive clinical research and novel therapeutic treatments, cancer remains undefeated and the significant cause of death worldwide. Cancer is a disease in which growth of cells goes out of control, being also able to invade other parts of the body. Cellular division is strictly controlled by multiple checkpoints like G1/S and G2/M which, when dysregulated, lead to uncontrollable cell division. The current remedies which are being utilized to combat cancer are monoclonal antibodies, chemotherapy, cryoablation, and bone marrow transplant etc. and these have also been greatly disheartening because of their serious adverse effects like hypotension, neuropathy, necrosis, leukemia relapse and many more. Bioactive compounds derived from natural products have marked the history of the development of novel drug therapies against cancer among which ginsenosides have no peer as they target several signaling pathways, which when abnormally regulated, lead to cancer. Substantial research has reported that ginsenosides like Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Rg3, Rh2 etc. can prevent and treat cancer by targeting different pathways and molecules by induction of autophagy, neutralizing ROS, induction of cancerous cell death by controlling the p53 pathway, modulation of miRNAs by decreasing Smad2 expression, regulating Bcl-2 expression by normalizing the NF-Kb pathway, inhibition of inflammatory pathways by decreasing the production of cytokines like IL-8, causing cell cycle arrest by restricting cyclin E1 and CDC2, and induction of apoptosis during malignancy by decreasing β-catenin levels etc. In this review, we have analyzed the anti-cancer therapeutic potential of various ginsenoside compounds in order to consider their possible use in new strategies in the fight against cancer.

The effect of ginsenosides on liver injury in preclinical studies: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Liver injury is a severe liver lesion caused by various etiologies and is one of the main areas of medical research. Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has traditionally been used as medicine to treat diseases and regulate body functions. Ginsenosides are the main active components of ginseng, and their effects on liver injury have been extensively reported. Methods: Preclinical studies meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan Fang Data Knowledge Service Platforms. The Stata 17.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis, meta-regression, and subgroup analysis. Results: This meta-analysis included ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, and compound K (CK), in 43 articles. The overall results showed that multiple ginsenosides significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), affected oxidative stress-related indicators, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT), and reduced levels of inflammatory factor, such as factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6). Additionally, there was a large amount of heterogeneity in the meta-analysis results. Our predefined subgroup analysis shows that the animal species, the type of liver injury model, the duration of treatment, and the administration route may be the sources of some of the heterogeneity. Conclusion: In a word, ginsenosides have good efficacy against liver injury, and their potential mechanisms of action target antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and apoptotic-related pathways. However, the overall methodological quality of our current included studies was low, and more high-quality studies are needed to confirm their effects and mechanisms further.

Structural-Activity Relationship of Rare Ginsenosides from Red Ginseng in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease

Rare ginsenosides are the major components of red ginseng. However, there has been little research into the relationship between the structure of ginsenosides and their anti-inflammatory activity. In this work, BV-2 cells induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or nigericin, the anti-inflammatory activity of eight rare ginsenosides, and the target proteins expression of AD were compared. In addition, the Morris water maze test, HE staining, thioflavins staining, and urine metabonomics were used to evaluate the effect of Rh4 on AD mice. Our results showed that their configuration influences the anti-inflammatory activity of ginsenosides. Ginsenosides Rk1, Rg5, Rk3, and Rh4 have significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to ginsenosides S-Rh1, R-Rh1, S-Rg3, and R-Rg3. Ginsenosides S-Rh1 and S-Rg3 have more pronounced anti-inflammatory activity than ginsenosides R-Rh1 and R-Rg3, respectively. Furthermore, the two pairs of stereoisomeric ginsenosides can significantly reduce the level of NLRP3, caspase-1, and ASC in BV-2 cells. Interestingly, Rh4 can improve the learning ability of AD mice, improve cognitive impairment, reduce hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and Aβ deposition, and regulate AD-related pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the sphingolipid metabolism. Our findings conclude that rare ginsenosides with a double bond have more anti-inflammatory activity than those without, and 20(S)-ginsenosides have more excellent anti-inflammatory activity than 20(R)-ginsenosides.

Pathogenic mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholism is a widespread and damaging behaviour of people throughout the world. Long-term alcohol consumption has resulted in alcoholic liver disease (ALD) being the leading cause of chronic liver disease. Many metabolic enzymes, including alcohol dehydrogenases such as ADH, CYP2E1, and CATacetaldehyde dehydrogenases ALDHsand nonoxidative metabolizing enzymes such as SULT, UGT, and FAEES, are involved in the metabolism of ethanol, the main component in alcoholic beverages. Ethanol consumption changes the functional or expression profiles of various regulatory factors, such as kinases, transcription factors, and microRNAs. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms of ALD are complex, involving inflammation, mitochondrial damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, nitrification, and oxidative stress. Moreover, recent evidence has demonstrated that the gut-liver axis plays a critical role in ALD pathogenesis. For example, ethanol damages the intestinal barrier, resulting in the release of endotoxins and alterations in intestinal flora content and bile acid metabolism. However, ALD therapies show low effectiveness. Therefore, this review summarizes ethanol metabolism pathways and highly influential pathogenic mechanisms and regulatory factors involved in ALD pathology with the aim of new therapeutic insights.

Ginsenoside Rk3 is a novel PI3K/AKT-targeting therapeutics agent that regulates autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Ginsenoside Rk3, an important and rare saponin in heat-treated ginseng, is generated from Rg1 and has a smaller molecular weight. However, the anti-HCC efficacy and mechanisms of ginsenoside Rk3 have not yet been characterized. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which ginsenoside Rk3, a tetracyclic triterpenoid rare ginsenoside, inhibits the growth of HCC. We first explored the possible potential targets of Rk3 through network pharmacology. Both in vitro (HepG2 and HCC-LM3 cells) and in vivo (primary liver cancer mice and HCC-LM3 subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice) studies revealed that Rk3 significantly inhibits the proliferation of HCC. Meanwhile, Rk3 blocked the cell cycle in HCC at the G1 phase and induced autophagy and apoptosis in HCC. Further proteomics and siRNA experiments showed that Rk3 regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway to inhibit HCC growth, which was validated by molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance. In conclusion, we report the discovery that ginsenoside Rk3 binds to PI3K/AKT and promotes autophagy and apoptosis in HCC. Our data strongly support the translation of ginsenoside Rk3 into novel PI3K/AKT-targeting therapeutics for HCC treatment with low toxic side effects.

Therapeutic role of melatonin on acrylamide-induced hepatotoxicity in pinealectomized rats: Effects on oxidative stress, NF-κB signaling pathway, and hepatocellular proliferation

Acrylamide (AA) is formed in some foods by the cooking process at high temperatures, and it could be a carcinogen in humans and rodents. The purpose of the current study was to reveal the possible protective effects of melatonin against AA-induced hepatic oxidative stress, hepatic inflammation, and hepatocellular proliferation in pinealectomized rats. Hence, the sham and pinealectomized rats were consecutively given AA alone (25 mg/kg) or with melatonin (10 mg/kg) for 21 days. Melatonin acts as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic agent and introduces as a therapeutic strategy for AA-induced hepatotoxicity. Melatonin supplementation reduced AA-caused liver damage by decreasing the serum AST, ALT, and ALP levels. Melatonin raised the activities of SOD and CAT and levels of GSH and suppressed hepatic inflammation (TNF-α) and hepatic oxidative stress in liver tissues. Moreover, histopathological alterations and the disturbances in immunohistochemical expression of NF-κB and Ki67 were improved after melatonin treatment in AA-induced hepatotoxicity. Overall, our results demonstrate that melatonin supplementation exhibits adequate hepatoprotective effects against hepatotoxicity of AA on pinealectomized rat liver architecture and the tissue function through the equilibration of oxidant/antioxidant status, the regulation of cell proliferation and the suppression of the release of proinflammatory cytokines.

A Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies to Investigate the Effect of Panax ginseng on Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) has become a major global concern, but the development of effective drugs remains a challenge despite numerous preclinical and clinical pieces of research on the effects of natural compounds. To address this, a meta-analysis was conducted on the efficacy of Panax ginseng for ALD based on preclinical studies. We identified 18 relevant studies from PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library database and evaluated their methodological quality using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation tool. We analyzed the data using I2, p-values, and fixed effects models to assess overall efficacy and heterogeneity. The results of the meta-analysis suggested that Panax ginseng treatment is effective in reducing the levels of inflammatory markers associated with hepatic injury caused by ALD in animal experiments. Additionally, the administration of Panax ginseng was found to down-regulate inflammatory cytokines and attenuate lipid metabolism in ALD. Moreover, Panax ginseng markedly improved the antioxidant systems in ALD. Therefore, we concluded that Panax ginseng has the potential to be a promising therapeutic agent for ALD. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dosage and duration of treatment for patients with ALD.

Regulation of NOX/p38 MAPK/PPARα pathways and miR-155 expression by boswellic acids reduces hepatic injury in experimentally-induced alcoholic liver disease mouse model: novel mechanistic insight

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) refers to hepatic ailments induced by excessive alcohol intake. The pathogenesis of ALD comprises a complex interplay between various mechanistic pathways, among which inflammation and oxidative stress are key players. Boswellic acids (BAs), found in Boswellia serrata, have shown hepatoprotective effects owing to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, nevertheless, their therapeutic potential against ALD has not been previously investigated. Hence, this study was performed to depict the possible protective effect of BAs and detect their underlying mechanism of action in an experimentally-induced ALD mouse model. Male BALB/c mice were equally categorized into six groups: control, BAs-treated, ALD, and ALD that received BAs at three-dose levels (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) by oral gavage for 14 days. Results showed that the high dose of BAs had the most protective impact against ALD according to histopathology examination, blood alcohol concentration (BAC), and liver function enzymes. Mechanistic investigations revealed that BAs (500 mg/kg) caused a significant decrease in cytochrome P450 2E1(CYP2E1), nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NOX) 1/2/4, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) levels, and the expression of miR-155, yet increased peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) levels. This led to an improvement in lipid profile and reduced hepatic inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis indices. In summary, our study concludes that BAs can protect against ethanol-induced hepatic injury, via modulating NOX/p38 MAPK/PPARα pathways and miR-155 expression.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Albumin Peptide Fractions from Corn Germ Meal against Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Acute alcoholic liver disease can cause serious liver damage. This study reports on the hepatoprotective effect of albumin peptide fractions from corn germ meal (MW < 1 kDa) (APF4) on acute alcohol hepatic damage in mice. In the mice model, the results indicated that APF4 at a dose of 800 mg/kg/bw could markedly boost alcohol metabolism, which was shown in the reduced duration of the loss of the righting reflex; the reduced level of blood alcohol concentration (BAC), cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.01); the enhanced activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH); and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels being increased by up to 84.02% and 193.22% (p < 0.01) compared to the control group. The antioxidant capability and lipid peroxidation inhibition activity of APF4 may be responsible for its protective effect against liver damage induced by alcohol. The findings suggested that APF4 had the hepatoprotective property against liver damage induced by alcohol.

Anti-inflammatory effects of β-ionone-curcumin hybrid derivatives against ulcerative colitis

A series of β-ionone-curcumin hybrid derivatives were designed and chosen to merge the biological characteristics of two parent molecules and to obtain a leading compound with higher biological activity. Through the initial screening, the structure activity relationship of their hybrid derivatives as inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) production showed that meta-substituted derivatives exhibited the best inhibitory activity, among which 1h was the best one. In lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 macrophage cells, 1h showed anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the productions of NO and reactive oxygen species, the expressions of Interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, and the translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB from the cytosol to the nucleus. Furthermore, molecular docking simulation displayed that 1h could interact with cluster of differentiation 14 to inhibit the toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB signaling. In dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) of mice, 100 mg/kg of 1h could significantly reduce the colon length shortening and protect against colon injury, liver injury and oxidative stress in DSS-induced UC of mice. Besides, 1h was safety in vivo. In conclusion, 1h was the potential anti-inflammatory agent, and further investigations were underway in our laboratory.

Ginsenosides Restore Lipid and Redox Homeostasis in Mice with Intrahepatic Cholestasis through SIRT1/AMPK Pathways

Intrahepatic cholestasis (IC) occurs when the liver and systemic circulation accumulate bile components, which can then lead to lipid metabolism disorders and oxidative damage. Ginsenosides (GS) are pharmacologically active plant products derived from ginseng that possesses lipid-regulation and antioxidation activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effects of ginsenosides (GS) on lipid homeostasis disorder and oxidative stress in mice with alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced IC and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. A comprehensive strategy via incorporating pharmacodynamics and molecular biology technology was adopted to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of GS in ANIT-induced mice liver injury. The effects of GS on cholestasis were studied in mice that had been exposed to ANIT-induced cholestasis. The human HepG2 cell line was then used in vitro to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which GS might improve IC. The gene silencing experiment and liver-specific sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) knockout (SIRT1^LKO) mice were used to further elucidate the mechanisms. The general physical indicators were assessed, and biological samples were collected for serum biochemical indexes, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress-related indicators. Quantitative PCR and H&E staining were used for molecular and pathological analysis. The altered expression levels of key pathway proteins (Sirt1, p-AMPK, Nrf2) were validated by Western blotting. By modulating the AMPK protein expression, GS decreased hepatic lipogenesis, and increased fatty acid β-oxidation and lipoprotein lipolysis, thereby improving lipid homeostasis in IC mice. Furthermore, GS reduced ANIT-triggered oxidative damage by enhancing Nrf2 and its downstream target levels. Notably, the protective results of GS were eliminated by SIRT1 shRNA in vitro and SIRT1^LKO mice in vivo. GS can restore the balance of the lipid metabolism and redox in the livers of ANIT-induced IC models via the SIRT1/AMPK signaling pathway, thus exerting a protective effect against ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury.

Identification and chemical profiling of anti-alcoholic liver disease biomarkers of ginseng Huang jiu using UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS and network pharmacology-based analyses

This study investigated the mechanism of characteristic non-volatile organic compounds (NVOCs) from ginseng Huang jiu (GH) in the treatment of alcoholic liver disease through UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS and network pharmacological analyses. Changes in NVOC contents in ginseng Huang jiu and ginseng-soaked wine fermented by different processing technologies were analyzed through liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). A total of 96 ginsenosides were identified in ginseng Huang jiu throughout the fermentation process, which included 37 protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, 47 protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides, and 4 oleanolic acid-type ginsenosides. Orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed that 20(R)-Rg2, Gypenoside XVII, 20(S)-Rf3, CK, Rg5, Rh2, and other rare ginsenosides in ginseng Huang jiu could be the potential index for determining ginseng Huang jiu. In addition, ginseng Huang jiu could improve alcoholic liver disease by regulating the GSTP1, HRAS, AKR1B1, GSTA1, Androgen receptor (AR), GSR, and LDHB genes through bioinformatics analysis. This study provides new insights into improving the industrial production of ginseng Huang jiu and treating alcoholic liver disease with medicinal and food products.

Rhoifolin Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Disease In Vivo and In Vitro via Inhibition of the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Background: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a common chronic liver disorder worldwide, which is detrimental to human health. A preliminary study showed that the total flavonoids within Citrus grandis “Tomentosa” exerted a remarkable effect on the treatment of experimental ALD. However, the active substances of Citrus grandis “Tomentosa” were not elucidated. Rhoifolin (ROF) is a flavonoid component present in high levels. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of ROF and its possible mechanisms.

Methods: Molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding energy of ROF to the main target proteins related to ALD. Subsequently, mice were fed ethanol (ETH) for 49 days to establish the chronic alcoholic liver injury models. The liver pathological injury, serum aminotransferase levels, and oxidative stress levels in the liver tissue were measured. Human normal hepatocytes (LO2 cells) were incubated with ETH to construct the alcoholic liver cell model. The inflammatory markers and apoptosis factors were evaluated using real-time PCR and flow cytometry. Finally, the effects of ROF on the CYP2E1 and NF-κB signaling pathways were tested in vitro and in vivo.

Results: Molecular docking results demonstrated that ROF was able to successfully dock with the target proteins associated with ALD. In animal studies, ROF attenuated ETH-induced liver damage in mice by decreasing the serum concentrations of AST and ALT, reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and maintaining antioxidant balance in the liver tissue. The in vitro experiments demonstrated that ROF suppressed ETH-induced apoptosis in LO2 cells by promoting Bcl-2 mRNA and inhibiting Bax mRNA and caspase 3 protein expression. ROF decreased the level of LDH, ALT, AST, ROS, and MDA in the supernatant; induced the activity of GSH and SOD; and inhibited TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β expression levels. Mechanistically, ROF could significantly downregulate the expression levels of CYP2E1, TLR4, and NF-κB phosphorylation.

Conclusion: This study indicates that ROF is the active component within the total flavonoids, which may alleviate ETH-induced liver injury by inhibiting NF-κB phosphorylation. Therefore, ROF may serve as a promising compound for treating ALD.

Ganoderic acids-rich ethanol extract from Ganoderma lucidum protects against alcoholic liver injury and modulates intestinal microbiota in mice with excessive alcohol intake

Alcoholic liver injury is mainly caused by excessive alcohol consumption and has become a global public health problem threatening human health. It is well known that Ganoderma lucidum possesses various excellent beneficial effects on liver function and lipid metabolism. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the underlying protective effect and action mechanism of ganoderic acids-rich G. lucidum ethanol extract (GLE) on alcohol-induced liver injury in mice with excessive alcohol intake. Results showed that oral administration of GLE could obviously inhibit the abnormal increases of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and also significantly protect the liver against alcohol-induced excessive hepatic lipid accumulation and pathological changes. In addition, alcohol-induced oxidative stress in liver was significantly ameliorated by the dietary intervention of GLE through reducing the hepatic levels of maleic dialdehyde (MDA) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and increasing the hepatic levels of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Compared with the model group, GLE intervention significantly ameliorated the intestinal microbial disorder by elevating the relative abundance of Ruminiclostridium_9, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Oscillibacter, [Eubacterium]_xylanophilum_group, norank_f_Clostridiates_vadinBB60_group, GCA-900066225, Bilophila, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-009, norank_f_Desulfovibrionaceae and Hydrogenoanaerobacterium, but decreasing the proportion of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1. Furthermore, liver metabolomic profiling suggested that GLE intervention had a significant regulatory effect on the composition of liver metabolites in mice with excessive alcohol intake, especially the levels of some biomarkers involved in primary bile acid biosynthesis, riboflavin metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fructose and mannose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. Additionally, dietary supplementation with GLE significantly regulated the mRNA levels of key genes related to fatty acids metabolism, ethanol catabolism and inflammatory response in liver. Conclusively, these findings indicate that GLE has a potentially beneficial effect on alleviating alcohol-induced liver injury and may be developed as a promising functional food ingredient.

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Phytochemical analysis revealed that ethanol extract of Gaoderma lucidum (GLE) is rich in ganoderic acids.

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GLE ameliorated lipid metabolism, antioxidant function and inflammatory response in mice with excessive alcohol intake.

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Liver metabolomics based on UPLC-QTOF/MS was performed to reveal the underlying hepatoprotective effect of GLE.

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GLE intervention alleviated alcoholic liver injury partly through regulating the “gut-liver-metabolite”axis.

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Hepatic gene transcriptions related to lipid metabolism and inflammation were remarkablyinfluenced by GLE intervention.

The Effects of Ginsenosides on the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway

Nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a major signaling pathway for the maintenance of homeostasis and redox balance. This pathway also plays a significant role in proteostasis, xenobiotic/drug metabolism, apoptosis, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Conversely, the Nrf2 signaling pathway is impaired in several pathological conditions including cancer. Although various drugs have been developed to target the Nrf2 pathway, plant-derived chemicals than can potentially impact this pathway and are particularly attractive due to their minimal side effects. Ginsenosides are active components of ginseng and have been shown to exert pharmacological effects including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antidiabetes, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. In this article, we have reviewed the effects of ginsenosides on Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Anti-Photoaging and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ginsenoside Rk3 During Exposure to UV Irradiation

Ginseng is a widely cultivated perennial plant in China and Korea. Ginsenoside Rk3 is one of the major active components of ginseng and is a promising candidate to regulate skin pigments and exert anti-photoaging effects on skin physiology. Ginsenoside Rk3 was mixed with a cream (G-Rk3 cream) and smeared on the skin of mice. Then, the mice were exposed to ultraviolet (UV) A (340 nm and 40 W) and UVB (313 nm and 40 W) radiation. Special attention was given to the anti-photoaging and anti-inflammatory effects of ginsenoside Rk3 on the mouse skin. Macroscopic evaluation indicated that the mouse dorsal skin looked smooth and plump even under UV irradiation for 12 weeks. Pathological analysis indicated that there was no obvious photoaging or inflammation in the mouse skin that was treated with the G-Rk3 cream. More healthy, intact, and neat collagen fibers were observed in mice treated with the G-Rk3 cream than in untreated mice. Further analysis proved that ginsenoside Rk3 could inhibit the decrease in water and hydroxyproline levels in skin tissues and the loss of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in the blood. Moreover, ginsenoside Rk3 slowed or halted increases in malondialdehyde, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, and MMP-3 levels in the blood and levels of interleukin 1, interleukin 6, and tumor necrosis factor α in skin tissues. In conclusion, ginsenoside Rk3 plays a significant role in inhibiting photoaging and inflammation to protect skin health.

Ginsenoside Rk3 Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development through Targeting the Gut-Liver Axis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Our previous reports showed that ginsenoside Rk3 provided excellent efficacy in alleviating the intestinal inflammatory response and protecting the liver, but its mechanism for HCC prevention remains to be explored. Here, the results suggested that Rk3 displayed potent antitumor effects against a dimethyl nitrosamine- and CCl₄-induced HCC mouse model. Results revealed that Rk3 application inhibited liver injury, fibrosis, and cirrhosis. In parallel, Rk3 lowered the inflammatory response by decreasing the expression of inflammatory cytokines, inducing apoptosis, and blocking the cell cycle. Meanwhile, Rk3 effectively ameliorated the gut microbiota dysbiosis. Furthermore, correlation analysis revealed that the LPS-TLR4 signaling pathway, which was inhibited by Rk3, plays a key role in preventing HCC. To conclude, our research provides valuable insights into how Rk3 application targets the gut-liver axis and suppresses HCC development, suggesting that Rk3 might be a promising candidate for clinical treatment of HCC.

Hepatoprotective effects of ginsenoside Rk3 in acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice by activation of autophagy

Acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (AIALI) is one of the most common causes of acute liver failure. Owing to the limitations of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which is the only antidote currently used in clinical practice for APAP, there is a need to develop new therapies that can provide extensive protection against AIALI. Ginsenoside Rk3 is a rare ginsenoside extracted from Panax notoginseng and a previous study has reported its excellent hepatoprotective function. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of ginsenoside Rk3 in APAP-induced acute liver injury. We found that ginsenoside Rk3 could reduce APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by reducing serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activity and pathological damage to the liver. Moreover, ginsenoside Rk3 could inhibit APAP-induced liver inflammation and oxidative stress by inhibiting the production of oxidative molecules, increasing the production of antioxidant molecules, and reducing the infiltration of inflammatory cells and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further mechanistic investigations revealed that the therapeutic effect of ginsenoside Rk3 was mainly dependent on the continuous activation of autophagy. Chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor, was found to inhibit these protective effects. Therefore, ginsenoside Rk3 shows potential as a novel hepatoprotective agent to prevent drug-induced liver injury.

Protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol ginsenosides can protect against aconitine-induced injury in H9c2 cells by maintaining calcium homeostasis and activating the AKT pathway

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of protopanaxadiol and protopanaxatriol ginsenosides on aconitine induced cardiomyocyte injury and their regulatory mechanisms. The effects of ginsenosides on aconitine-induced cardiomyocyte damage were initially evaluated using H9c2 cells, and the molecular mechanisms were elucidated via molecular docking and western blotting. The changes in enzyme content, reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium (Ca2+) concentration and apoptosis were determined. Furthermore, an aconitine-induced cardiac injury rat model was established, the cardiac injury and serum physiological and biochemical indexes were measured, and the effects of ginsenoside were observed. The results showed that ginsenoside Rb1 significantly increased aconitine-induced cell viability, and its binding conformation with AKT protein was the most significant. In vitro and in vivo, Rb1 protects cardiomyocytes from aconitine-induced injury by regulating oxidative stress levels and maintaining Ca2+ concentration homeostasis. Moreover, Rb1 activated the PI3K/AKT pathway, down-regulated Cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and up-regulated Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, Rb1 protected H9c2 cells from aconitine-induced injury by maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis and activating the PI3K/AKT pathway to induce a cascade response of downstream proteins, thereby protecting cardiomyocytes from damage. These results suggested that ginsenoside Rb1 may be a potential cardiac protective drug.

Inhibitory activities of 20(R, S)-protopanaxatriol against epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase

As major metabolites of protopanaxatriol-type ginsenosides, 20(R, S)-protopanaxatriol [20(R, S)-PPT] display multiple bioactivities. This work aimed to investigate the inhibitory activities of 20(R, S)-PPT against epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase and the potential mechanism. 20(R, S)-PPT inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and blocked cell cycle progression at G1/G0 phase. Then 20(R, S)-PPT were found to influence the protein expressions involved in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Molecular docking suggested that 20(R, S)-PPT could bind to the active sites of all target proteins in EGFR-MAPK pathway. It is worth noting that 20(R, S)-PPT showed stronger binding capacities with EGFR, compared with other proteins. Hence, this work further investigated the binding interactions and binding stabilities between 20(R, S)-PPT and EGFR. Both hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds contributed to the 20(R, S)-PPT-EGFR binding. In addition, the in vitro inhibitory activities of 20(R, S)-PPT against EGFR tyrosine kinase were observed in a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence assay, with the IC₅₀ values of 24.10 ± 0.17 and 33.19 ± 0.19 μM respectively. Taken together with the above results, both of 20(R)-PPT and 20(S)-PPT might serve as potential EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Oxidative Stress-A Key Player in the Course of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Oxidative stress is known to be an inseparable factor involved in the presentation of liver disorders. Free radicals interfere with DNA, proteins, and lipids, which are crucial in liver metabolism, changing their expression and biological functions. Additionally, oxidative stress modifies the function of micro-RNAs, impairing the metabolism of hepatocytes. Free radicals have also been proven to influence the function of certain transcriptional factors and to alter the cell cycle. The pathological appearance of alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) constitutes an ideal example of harmful effects due to the redox state. Finally, ethanol-induced toxicity and overproduction of free radicals provoke irreversible changes within liver parenchyma. Understanding the underlying mechanisms associated with the redox state in the course of ALD creates new possibilities of treatment for patients. The future of hepatology may become directly dependent on the effective action against reactive oxygen species. This review summarizes current data on the redox state in the natural history of ALD, highlighting the newest reports on this topic.

Magnesium-L-threonate alleviate colonic inflammation and memory impairment in chronic-plus-binge alcohol feeding mice

Magnesium-l-threonate (MgT) is considered a food supplement. Alcohol-mediated diseases (AMD) are accompanied by inflammation and memory impairment. The purpose of this study is to investigate the function of MgT in AMD. Hence, chronic-plus-binge alcohol feeding mice model and multiply bioinformatics analysis were performed. Consequently, the expression of inflammatory cytokines downregulated, while the activities of antioxidases decreased in serum, colon, and brain. Interestingly, MgT relieved gut barrier dysfunction and reshaped microbiota. The relative abundance of Akkermansia, Odoribacter, and Blautia were increased, while that of Alloprevotella and Clostridium were decreased. Metabolic analysis elucidated amino acids and glutamate metabolism were enhanced in MgT-treated mice. Furthermore, morris water maze test confirmed memory ability was enhanced. Inflammation cytokines were negatively correlated with Blautia, and Akkermansia. Collectively, MgT relieved inflammation in gut-brain axis of mice, reshaped gut microbiota, and enhanced the amino acids and glutamate metabolism. MgT may be used as a food supplement to prevent inflammation and memory impairment induced by alcohol abuse.

Ginsenoside Rk3 alleviates gut microbiota dysbiosis and colonic inflammation in antibiotic-treated mice

Ginsenoside Rk3 is a natural prebiotic found in ginseng, has excellent pharmacological efficacy, especially antitumor effects, and can greatly benefit human health. Here, we investigated the impact of Rk3 intake on modulation of the gut microbiota and their metabolites as well as its effect on low-grade inflammation in mice. C57BL/6JFandd mice were administered different doses of Rk3 for two weeks after establishment of an antibiotic-mediated gut microbiota disturbance model. Interestingly, Rk3 intake induced substantial changes in the gut microbiota composition, enriched the Bacteroides, Alloprevotella and Blautia genera, and effectively ameliorated gut microbiota dysbiosis, with significantly decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios. These changes were accompanied by beneficial alterations in gut microbiota diversity and improved short-chain fatty acid levels. In addition, we found that Rk3 intervention repaired intestinal barrier dysfunction by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1), reducing colonic inflammatory cytokine levels, and suppressing TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 overproduction. In conclusion, Rk3 improves intestinal inflammation and induces potentially beneficial changes in the gut microbiota, and these findings help elucidate host-microbe interactions.

A polysaccharide of PFP-1 from Pleurotus geesteranus attenuates alcoholic liver diseases via Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways

A polysaccharide named PFP-1 was isolated from the Pleurotus geesteranus fruiting body, and potential investigations on ameliorating oxidative stress and liver injury against alcoholic liver disease (ALD) were performed in mice. The animal studies demonstrated that PFP-1 had hepatoprotective effects by improving hepatocellular histopathology, modulating alcohol metabolisms and restoring the serum lipid levels. Besides, PFP-1 could attenuate oxidative stress and inflammatory responses by activating the Nrf2-mediated signal pathways and regulating the TLR4-mediated NF-κB signal pathways. The characterization indicated that PFP-1 was a typical pyranose-polysaccharide in a triple-helical conformation, which was linked by t-β-Glcp, 1,6-α-Glcp and 1,2,6-α-Galp. And the characteristic properties of higher water solubility and appropriate molecular weights contributed to the superior bioactivities. The results demonstrated that PFP-1 could be used as a supplement for alleviating alcohol-induced liver damage.

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Increased Bile Acid Levels in Enterohepatic Circulation and Reduced Efficacy of Irinotecan

AIMS

To investigate the effect of ethanol intake on the whole enterohepatic circulation (EHC) of bile acids (BAs) and, more importantly, on pharmacokinetics of irinotecan.

METHODS

The present study utilized a mouse model administered by gavage with 0 (control), 240 mg/100 g (30%, v/v) and 390 mg/100 g (50%, v/v) ethanol for 6 weeks, followed by BA profiles in the whole EHC (including liver, gallbladder, intestine and plasma) and colon using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Pharmacokinetic parameters of irinotecan were measured after administration of irinotecan (i.v. 5 mg/kg) on alcohol-treated mice.

RESULTS

The results showed that compared with the control group, concentrations of most free-BAs, total amount of the three main forms of BAs (free-BA, taurine-BA and glycine-BA) and total BAs (TBAs) in 50% ethanol intake group were significantly increased, which are mostly attributed to the augmentation of free-BAs and taurine-BAs. Additionally, the TBAs in liver and gallbladder and the BA pool were markedly increased in the 30% ethanol intake group. Importantly, ethanol intake upregulated the expression of BA-related enzymes (Cyp7a1, Cyp27a1, Cyp8b1 and Baat) and transporters (Bsep, Mrp2, P-gp and Asbt) and downregulated the expression of transporter Ntcp and nuclear receptor Fxr in the liver and ileum, respectively. Additionally, 50% ethanol intake caused fairly distinct liver injury. Furthermore, the AUC0-24 h of irinotecan and SN38 were significantly reduced but their clearance was significantly increased in the disrupted EHC of BA by 50% ethanol intake.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated that ethanol intake altered the expression of BA-related synthetases and transporters. The BA levels, especially the toxic BAs (chenodeoxycholic acid, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid), in the whole EHC were significantly increased by ethanol intake, which may provide a potential explanation to illuminate the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver injury. Most importantly, chronic ethanol consumption had a significant impact on the pharmacokinetics (AUC0-24 h and clearance) of irinotecan and SN38; hence colon cancer patients with chronic alcohol consumption treated with irinotecan deserve our close attention.

The Impact of Acute or Chronic Alcohol Intake on the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Ethanol misuse is frequently associated with a multitude of profound medical conditions, contributing to health-, individual- and social-related damage. A particularly dangerous threat from this classification is coined as alcoholic liver disease (ALD), a liver condition caused by prolonged alcohol overconsumption, involving several pathological stages induced by alcohol metabolic byproducts and sustained cellular intoxication. Molecular, pathological mechanisms of ALD principally root in the innate immunity system and are especially associated with enhanced functionality of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) pathway. NF-κB is an interesting and convoluted DNA transcription regulator, promoting both anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory gene expression. Thus, the abundancy of studies in recent years underlines the importance of NF-κB in inflammatory responses and the mechanistic stimulation of inner molecular motifs within the factor components. Hereby, in the following review, we would like to put emphasis on the correlation between the NF-κB inflammation signaling pathway and ALD progression. We will provide the reader with the current knowledge regarding the chronic and acute alcohol consumption patterns, the molecular mechanisms of ALD development, the involvement of the NF-κB pathway and its enzymatic regulators. Therefore, we review various experimental in vitro and in vivo studies regarding the research on ALD, including the recent active compound treatments and the genetic modification approach. Furthermore, our investigation covers a few human studies.

Minor Ginsenoside Rg2 and Rh1 Attenuates LPS-Induced Acute Liver and Kidney Damages via Downregulating Activation of TLR4-STAT1 and Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Macrophages

Ginsenosides have been reported to have various biological effects, such as immune regulation and anticancer activity. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory role of a combination of Rg2 and Rh1, which are minor ginsenosides, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation. In vitro experiments were performed using the RAW264.7 cell line, and an in vivo model of inflammation was established using LPS-treated ICR mice. We employed Griess assay, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, immunofluorescence staining, and hematoxylin and eosin staining to evaluate the effect of Rg2 and Rh1. We found that Rg2 and Rh1 significantly decreased LPS-induced major inflammatory mediator production, inducible-nitric oxide synthase expression, and nitric oxide production in macrophages. Moreover, Rg2 and Rh1 combination treatment inhibited the binding of LPS to toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) on peritoneal macrophages. Therefore, the combination of ginsenoside Rg2 and Rh1 suppressed inflammation by abolishing the binding of LPS to TLR4, thereby inhibiting the TLR4-mediated signaling pathway. The combined ginsenoside synergistically blocked LPS-mediated PKCδ translocation to the plasma membrane, resulting in p38-STAT1 activation and NF-κB translocation. In addition, mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-β, were significantly decreased by combined ginsenoside treatment. Notably, the 20 mg/kg ginsenoside treatment significantly reduced LPS-induced acute tissue inflammation levels in vivo, as indicated by the tissue histological damage scores and the levels of biochemical markers for liver and kidney function from mouse serum. These results suggest that the minor ginsenosides Rg2 and Rh1 may play a key role in prevention of LPS-induced acute inflammation and tissue damage.

Ginsenoside Rk3 alleviated DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by protecting colon barrier and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

Ginsenosides have a variety of pharmacological activities, including immunomodulatory, antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the effect of Rk3 on ulcerative colitis has rarely been reported. This study evaluated the effect of Rk3 on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis and preliminarily explored the anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Rk3 administration significantly attenuated the weight loss, increased DAI scores, colonic shortening, and increased MPO and iNOS activities caused by DSS in mice. Histological improvement was apparent, tight junctions in the colon were restored, and the levels of short-chain fatty acids (acetic acid, butyric acid and isovaleric acid) were increased. In addition, Rk3 reduced the expression of proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1, indicating blockade of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. These results show that Rk3 can improve DSS-induced ulcerative colitis by protecting intestinal barrier function and inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome expression, indicating that Rk3 could be used as a potential drug for treating ulcerative colitis.

Studies on the potential link between antidepressant effect of Xiaoyao San and its pharmacological activity of hepatoprotection based on multi-platform metabolomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory, depression is considered to be "liver qi stagnation", and relieving "liver qi stagnation" is regarded as an effective method for treating depression. Xiaoyao San (XYS) is a well-known TCM formula for the treatment of depression by relieving "liver qi stagnation". This formula consists of Radix Paeoniae Alba (Paeonia lactiflora Pall.), Radix Bupleuri (Bupleurum chinense DC.), Poria (Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.), Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels), Radix Glycyrrhizae (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.), Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and Herba Menthae Haplocalycis (Mentha haplocalyx Briq.).

AIM OF THE STUDY

Several studies have suggested that depression is associated with liver injury. XYS was a well-known TCM formula for the treatment of depression and liver stagnancy. However, it was still unknown whether the antidepressant effect of XYS is related to the pharmacological activity of hepatoprotection. The aim of this study was to elucidate the potential link between the antidepressant and hepatoprotective effect of XYS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A depression rat model was established by the CUMS (chronic unpredictable mild stress) procedure. The antidepressant effect of XYS was assessed by the behavioral indicators, and the hepatoprotective effect of XYS was evaluated through biochemical assays. ¹H-NMR and LC/MS-based liver metabolomics were performed to discover key metabolic pathways involved in the antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects of XYS. Further, the key pathway was validated using commercial kits.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that XYS pretreatment could significantly improve the depressive symptom induced by CUMS. More importantly, the results demonstrated that liver injury was observed in the CUMS model rats, and XYS had a hepatoprotective effect by reducing the activities of AST and ALT in serum, increasing the levels of SOD and GSH-Px and reducing the contents of MDA, IL-6, and IL-1β in the liver. In addition, the NMR and LC/MS-based metabolomics results indicated that XYS improved 23 of the 35 perturbed potential liver biomarkers that were induced by CUMS. Among them, 9 biomarkers were significantly correlated with both depression and liver pathology, according to Pearson correlation analysis. Metabolic pathway analyses of these 9 biomarkers showed that glutamine and glutamate metabolism were the most important metabolic pathways. Furthermore, to verify glutamine and glutamate metabolism, the levels of glutamine and glutamate, and the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutaminase (GLS) were quantitatively determined in the liver by commercial kits, and these results were consistent with the metabolomics results.

CONCLUSIONS

XYS could significantly improve the depressive and liver injury symptoms induced by CUMS. The metabolomics results indicate that the regulation of glutamine and glutamate metabolism to maintain the balance of ammonia and promote energy metabolism is a potential junction between the antidepressant and hepatoprotective effects of XYS.

Vitamin D Deficiency Aggravates Hepatic Oxidative Stress and Inflammation during Chronic Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice

Vitamin D deficiency has been reported in alcoholics. This study is aimed at evaluating the effects of vitamin D deficiency on chronic alcohol-induced liver injury in mice. Mice were fed with modified Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets for 6 weeks to establish an animal model of chronic alcohol-induced liver injury. In the VDD+EtOH group, mice were fed with modified diets, in which vitamin D was depleted. Vitamin D deficiency aggravated alcohol-induced liver injury. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency aggravated hepatocyte apoptosis during alcohol-induced liver injury. Although it has a little effect on hepatic TG content, vitamin D deficiency promoted alcohol-induced hepatic GSH depletion and lipid peroxidation. Further analysis showed that vitamin D deficiency further increased alcohol-induced upregulation of hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (inos), two NADPH oxidase subunits p47phox and gp91phox, and heme oxygenase- (HO-) 1. By contrast, vitamin D deficiency attenuated alcohol-induced upregulation of hepatic antioxidant enzyme genes, such as superoxide dismutase (sod) 1 and gshpx. In addition, vitamin D deficiency significantly elevated alcohol-induced upregulation of hepatic proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Taken together, these results suggest that vitamin D deficiency aggravates hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation during chronic alcohol-induced liver injury.

The Effects of Dexmedetomidine in a Rat Model of Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury are Mediated Through the Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)/Silent Information Regulator 1 (SIRT1) Pathway

BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine in a rat model of sepsis-induced lung injury and the role of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) gene and silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) gene signaling pathway. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty 28-week-old healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group. The rat model of sepsis-induced lung injury was developed by surgical cecal ligation and puncture. Lung tissues examined histologically in the three study groups. Cell apoptosis was measured using the TUNEL assay, and the expression of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-10 were measured in rat lung tissue by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Apoptosis-associated proteins and AMPK/SIRT1 pathway-associated protein expression levels were detected using Western blot. RESULTS Dexmedetomidine significantly increased the survival rate and reduced the body temperature of rats in the model group with sepsis-induced lung injury, reduced lung injury, significantly reduced apoptosis in lung tissues, and reduced the expression levels of TNF-alpha, and IL-1ß, and increased the levels of IL-10. Dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the expression of caspase-3 in the rat lung tissue (P<0.01), and significantly increased the expression of Bcl-2/Bax and the phosphorylation levels of AMPK, SIRT1, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), and forkhead box class O 3a (FOXO3a). CONCLUSIONS In a rat model of sepsis-induced lung injury, dexmedetomidine reduced lung damage by activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway and reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and cell apoptosis.

P-Hydroxyacetophenone Ameliorates Alcohol-Induced Steatosis and Oxidative Stress via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Zebrafish and Hepatocytes

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which is recognized as an important health problem worldwide, is a direct consequence of alcohol consumption, which can induce alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. P-Hydroxyacetophenone (p-HAP) is mainly used as a choleretic and hepatoprotective compound and has anti-hepatitis B, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. However, no experimental report has focused on p-HAP in ALD, and the effect and mechanism of p-HAP in ALD remain unknown. In addition, there is no research on p-HAP in the treatment of ALD. The potential molecular mechanisms of p-HAP against acute alcoholic liver injury remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether p-HAP alleviates ALD and to clarify the potential molecular mechanisms. Zebrafish larvae were soaked in 350 mmol/l ethanol for 32 h at 4 days post fertilization (dpf) and then treated with p-HAP for 48 h. We chose various outcome measures, such as liver histomorphological changes, antioxidation and antiapoptosis capability and expression of inflammation-related proteins, to elucidate the essential mechanism of p-HAP in the treatment of alcohol-induced liver damage. Subsequently, we applied pathological hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, Nile red staining and oil red O staining to detect the histomorphological and lipid changes in liver tissues. We also used TUNEL staining, immunochemistry and Western blot analysis to reveal the changes in apoptosis- and inflammation-related proteins. In particular, we used a variety of fluorescent probes to detect the antioxidant capacity of p-HAP in live zebrafish larvae in vivo. In addition, we discovered that p-HAP treatment relieved alcoholic hepatic steatosis in a dose-dependent manner and that the 50 μM dose had the best therapeutic effect. Generally, this research indicated that p-HAP might reduce oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in vivo and in vitro via the NF-κB signaling pathway.