Isolating the metabolic pathways involved in the hepatoprotective effect of Muntingia calabura against CCl4-induced liver injury using LC/MS Q-TOF

Antifouling activity of Malaysian green seaweed Ulva lactuca and its isolated non-polar compound

Marine natural products especially seaweeds have gained much attention to combat biofouling. Ulva lactuca was determined for its antifouling activity and characterized the isolated non-polar metabolite involved. The methanolic crude extract (MCE) of U. lactuca was screened using crystal violet assay against biofilm-forming bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and was further tested on laboratory and field tests. Then, it was fractionated and isolated using Liquid-Liquid Fractionation (LLE) and Column Chromatography (CC). The isolated compound was characterized using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), and Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The current study showed that the growth of biofilm produced by P. aeruginosa was inhibited by MCE at concentrations of 0.0156 mg/mL. The laboratory test indicated UL5% demonstrated a higher bacterial reduction of bacterial colonies with 1.903 × 106 CFU/mL better than blank paint. According to the field test, crude panels of UL5% were successful in reducing the settlement of fouling organisms due to less macrofouler growth compared to blank paint. The isolated compound A4 was identified as hexadecanoic acid (C16H32O2) through NMR with a molecular mass of 256 g/mol detected using LC-MS. The characterization through FTIR obtained functional groups consisting of CH3, CH2, C=O, and OH. Therefore, U. lactuca produced hexadecanoic acid as one of the promising compounds from the seaweed group as an eco-friendly antifouling agent.

Metabolomic Mechanisms of Radix Fici Hirtae against Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Acute Liver Damage in Mice

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.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Study of Salt-Processed Product of Cuscutae Semen with Hepatoprotective Effects

BACKGROUND

Salt-processed product of cuscutae semen (SCS), which is documented in Chinese pharmacopoeia (2020 edition), is one of the processed products of cuscustae semen. SCS possesses hepatoprotective effects. However, Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) study of SCS with intervening acute liver injury (ALI) has not been reported yet. Effective constituents are still not well addressed.

OBJECTIVE

This study was performed to study PK-PD properties with the purpose of linking SCS hepatoprotective effects to key therapeutic outlines to guide therapeutic use in clinical settings.

METHODS

Rats were orally administered SCS after the acute liver injury model was established. Plasma biochemical analysis, antioxidative analysis, and liver histopathology were measured to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of SCS. Blood samples were collected at different time points (0 h, 0.083 h, 0.25 h, 0.5 h, 1 h, 1.5 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h) for PK/PD study after SCS administration. Contents of chlorogenic acid, hyperoside and astragalin were estimated by UHPLC-ESI-MS. The relationship between concentrations of chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, and astragalin and hepatoprotective effects was assessed by PK-PD modeling.

RESULTS

The results showed that SCS ameliorated liver repair and decreased the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) markedly. Hepatic oxidative stress was inhibited by SCS, as evidenced by a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and an increase in glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver. PK-PD correlation analysis indicated that concentrations of chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, and astragalin were negatively correlated with level of AST and ALT.

CONCLUSION

The encouraging finding indicates that SCS has beneficial effects on CCl4-induced liver damage. Chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, and astragalin are three effective constituents to exert hepatoprotective effects while astragalin may have maximum pharmacological activity. PK-PD study reveals the positive relationship between drug concentration and action intensity of SCS against liver injury. This research provides a robust foundation for future studies.

Energy disorders caused by mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to α-amatoxin-induced liver function damage and liver failure

Mushroom toxicity is the main branch of foodborne poisoning, and liver damage caused by amatoxin poisoning accounts for more than 90 % of deaths due to mushroom poisoning. Alpha-amatoxin (α-AMA) has been considered the primary toxin from amatoxin-containing mushrooms, which is responsible for hepatotoxicity and death. However, the mechanism underlying liver failure due to α-AMA remains unclear. This study constructed animal and cell models. In the animal experiments, we investigated liver injury in BALB/c mice at different time points after α-AMA treatment, and explored the process of inflammatory infiltration using immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Then, a metabonomics method based on gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) was established to study the effect of α-AMA on liver metabonomics. The results showed a significant difference in liver metabolism between the exposed and control mice groups that coincided with pathological and biochemical indicators. Moreover, 20 metabolites and 4 metabolic pathways related to its mechanism of action were identified, which suggested that energy disorders related to mitochondrial dysfunction may be one of the causes of death. The significant changes of trehalose and the fluctuation of LC3-II and sqstm1 p62 protein levels indicated that autophagy was also involved in the damage process, suggesting that autophagy may participate in the clearance process of damaged mitochondria after poisoning. Then, we constructed an α-AMA-induced human normal liver cells (L-02 cells) injury model. The above hypothesis was further verified by detecting cell necrosis, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ m), and cellular ATP level. Collectively, our results serve as direct evidence of elevated in vivo hepatic mitochondrial metabolism in α-AMA-exposed mice and suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction plays an important role in the early stage of α-AMA induced liver failure.

Bioguided isolation, identification and activity evaluation of antifungal compounds from Acorus tatarinowii Schott

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

As a traditional folk medicine, Acorus tatarinowii Schott was used to treat digestive diseases, such as diarrhea, which may be related to Candida albicans infection; however according to literature surveys, there have been few studies of A. tatarinowii focusing on its antimicrobial activity, and almost all describe investigations using crude extracts or fractions.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aims of the current study were to isolate and identify antifungal fractions of A. tatarinowii based on their antifungal activity, explore the preliminary mechanism of 60% ethanol elution (AT60) by metabonomics, and evaluate the antifungal activity of AT60 in vivo and in vitro, to provide natural resources against fungal infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

As a pilot evaluation of activity, A. tatarinowii fractions and compounds with antifungal bioactivity were isolated by bioactive-guided column chromatography, and identified by LC-QTOF-MS/MS and NMR spectroscopy. The antifungal effects of the active ingredients against resistant C. albicans were evaluated by in vivo and in vitro colony forming unit assays. The mechanism underlying the activity of AT60 against C. albicans was explored using an LC-QTOF-based metabonomics approach and fluorescence microscopy imaging.

RESULTS

AT60 showed better activity against C. albicans than the same dose of the first line antifungal drugs, fluconazole and itraconazole (positive control drugs). Subsequent phytochemical investigation of AT60 identified twenty-five known compounds, six of which were isolated: asaraldehyde (7), 1-(2,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol (12), α-asarone (14), β-asarone (15), γ-asarone (18), acotatarone C (19). Further, the compounds α-asarone (14) and acotatarone C (19) may be responsible for the antifungal activity, and exhibit synergistic effects. Metabonomics analysis indicated that AT60 can inhibit biofilm formation by regulating the C. albicans protein kinase C pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that A. tatarinowii has potent bioactivity against C. albicans in vitro and in vivo, and can be considered an antifungal botanic agent.

Lomatogonium Rotatum for Treatment of Acute Liver Injury in Mice: A Metabolomics Study

Lomatogonium rotatum (L.) Fries ex Nym (LR) is used as a traditional Mongolian medicine to treat liver and bile diseases. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of LR on mice with CCl₄-induced acute liver injury through conventional assays and metabolomics analysis. This study consisted of male mice (n = 23) in four groups (i.e., control, model, positive control, and LR). The extract of whole plant of LR was used to treat mice in the LR group. Biochemical and histological assays (i.e., serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), and histological changes of liver tissue) were used to evaluate LR efficacy, and metabolomics analysis based on GC-MS and LC-MS was conducted to reveal metabolic changes. The conventional analysis and metabolomic profiles both suggested that LR treatment could protect mice against CCl₄-induced acute liver injury. The affected metabolic pathways included linoleic acid metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, CoA biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, the TCA cycle, and purine metabolism. This study identified eight metabolites, including phosphopantothenic acid, succinic acid, AMP, choline, glycerol 3-phosphate, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and DHA, as potential biomarkers for evaluating hepatoprotective effect of LR. This metabolomics study may shed light on possible mechanisms of hepatoprotective effect of LR.

Dynamic changes of key metabolites during liver fibrosis in rats

BACKGROUND

Fibrosis is the single most important predictor of significant morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease. Established non-invasive tests for monitoring fibrosis are lacking, and new biomarkers of liver fibrosis and function are needed.

AIM

To depict the process of liver fibrosis and look for novel biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring fibrosis progression.

METHODS

CCl₄ was used to establish the rat liver fibrosis model. Liver fibrosis process was measured by liver chemical tests, liver histopathology, and Masson’s trichrome staining. The expression levels of two fibrotic markers including α-smooth muscle actin and transforming growth factor β1 were assessed using immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Dynamic changes in metabolic profiles and biomarker concentrations in rat serum during liver fibrosis progression were investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The discriminatory capability of potential biomarkers was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

To investigate the dynamic changes of metabolites during the process of liver fibrosis, sera from control and fibrosis model rats based on pathological results were analyzed at five different time points. We investigated the association of liver fibrosis with 21 metabolites including hydroxyethyl glycine, L-threonine, indoleacrylic acid, β-muricholic acid (β-MCA), cervonoyl ethanolamide (CEA), phosphatidylcholines, and lysophosphatidylcholines. Two metabolites, CEA and β-MCA, differed significantly in the fibrosis model rats compared to controls (P < 0.05) and showed prognostic value for fibrosis. ROC curve analyses performed to calculate the area under the curve (AUC) revealed that CEA and β-MCA differed significantly in the fibrosis group compared to controls with AUC values exceeding 0.8, and can clearly differentiate early stage from late stage fibrosis or cirrhosis.

CONCLUSION

This study identified two novel biomarkers of fibrosis, CEA and β-MCA, which were effective for diagnosing fibrosis in an animal model.

Metabolic profiling of endogenous bile acids: a novel method to assess hepatoprotective effect of Tanreqing capsule on carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Tanreqing (TRQ), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula, can alleviate liver injury and improve liver function. Its pharmacological mechanisms of actions are still unclear due to its complex components and multi-target natures. Metabolomic study is an effective approach to investigating drug pharmacological actions, new diagnostic markers, and potential mechanisms of actions. In the present study, a new strategy was used to evaluate the protective effect of TRQ capsule against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, by analyzing metabolic profiling of endogenous bile acids (BAs) along with biochemical and histological analyses. BAs concentrations were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were then employed to analyze the UPLC-MS results and compare the hepatoprotective effect of TRQ capsule in different groups at the doses of 0.36, 1.44, and 2.88 g·kg^-1 body weight, respectively. Moreover, our results suggested that taurocholic acid (TCA) and taurohyodesoxycholic acid (THDCA) were the most important biochemical markers, which were indicative of CCl₄-induced acute hepatic damage and hepatoprotective effect of TRQ capsule. Therefore, this new strategy would be an excellent alternative method for evaluating hepatoprotective effect and proposing potential mechanisms of action for other drugs as well.

Effects of Centella asiatica extract on antioxidant status and liver metabolome of rotenone-treated rats using GC-MS

Centella asiatica has been used as a culinary vegetable or medicinal herb. In this study, the hepatoprotective effect of the standardized extract of C. asiatica (ECa233) in rotenone-treated rats was examined using a GC-MS-based metabolomic approach. ECa233 contains >80% triterpenoids with a ratio of madecassoside to asiaticoside of 1.5(±0.5):1. Rats were randomly divided into three groups (with six rats/group): sham negative control, rotenone positive control and the ECa233 test group. Rats in the ECa233 group received 10 mg/kg ECa233 orally for 20 days, followed by 2.5 mg/kg intraperitoneal rotenone injection to induce toxicity before being sacrificed. Metabolomic analysis showed that supplementation of ECa233 protected rat liver against rotenone toxicity. Pipecolinic acid was one of the most important metabolites; its level was decreased in the rotenone group as compared with the control. Supplementation with ECa233 before administration of rotenone raised pipecolinic acid to levels intermediate between controls and rotenone alone. The metabolomics approach also helped discover a possible new genuine epimetabolite in the present work. Antioxidant tests revealed that ECa233 inhibited lipid peroxidation and increased catalase activities in liver tissue.

A Study of NMR-Based Hepatic and Serum Metabolomics in a Liver Injury Sprague-Dawley Rat Model Induced by Psoralen

Psoralen is the main active component of Psoralea corylifolia and is used as a marker to assess its quality. The effects of psoralen on animals have been well characterized. However, the molecular pathway of its toxicity is not fully understood. In this study, the toxic effects of psoralen administration (60 mg/kg) for 7 days in Sprague-Dawley rats were observed. Serum biochemistry and liver histopathology were further investigated. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance was applied to characterize the metabolic profile of liver toxicity induced by psoralen and to find changed metabolites in rat serum and liver. It was revealed that visceral coefficients and serum biochemistry indexes were significantly changed in rats with psoralen-induced liver injury. Furthermore, the histopathological examination exhibited that the liver might be the target organ for psoralen. Metabolic analysis of both serum and liver samples further proved the liver was the target of toxicity of psoralen. Multivariate analysis identified 7 metabolites in serum samples and 15 in liver samples as potential biomarkers in liver injury induced by psoralen. In addition, our results suggest that psoralen can cause a disturbance in amino acid metabolism, especially valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis in both serum and liver samples. In conclusion, we combined the results of toxicity and metabolomics induced by psoralen and provide useful information about the safety and potential risks of psoralen and Psoralea corylifolia.

Application of Metabolomics in the Study of Natural Products

LC-MS-based metabolomics could have a major impact in the study of natural products, especially in its metabolism, toxicity and activity. This review highlights recent applications of metabolomics approach in the study of metabolites and toxicity of natural products, and the understanding of their effects on various diseases. Metabolomics has been employed to study the in vitro and in vivo metabolism of natural compounds, such as osthole, dehydrodiisoeugenol, and myrislignan. The pharmacological effects of natural compounds and extracts were determined using metabolomics technology combined with diseases models in animal, including osthole and nutmeg extracts. It has been demonstrated that metabolomics is a powerful technology for the investigation of xenobiotics-induced toxicity. The metabolism of triptolide and its hepatotoxicity were discussed. LC-MS-based metabolomics has a great potential in the druggability of natural products. The application of metabolomics should be broadened in the field of natural products in the future.

Tohid SF, Zakaria ZA. Anticarcinogenic activity of Muntingia calabura leaves methanol extract against the azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats involved modulation of the colonic antioxidant system partly by flavonoids

CONTEXT

Leaves of Muntingia calabura (Elaeocarpaceae) are widely used in traditional medical practice; scientific findings show various pharmacological activities. However, its anticancer effect has not been investigated thoroughly yet.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to study the chemoprevention effects of MEMC_L against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer and to examine the involvement of endogenous antioxidants Materials and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into five groups (n = 7), were injected intraperitoneally once weekly for 2 weeks with 15 mg/kg AOM, except for the normal group (received saline). The animals were then administered orally for 8 weeks with 8% Tween-80 (vehicle; normal group), 8% Tween-80 (vehicle; cancer group) or, 50, 250 or 500 mg/kg MEMC. After treatments, colon samples were collected from each rat for the histopathological analysis, quantification of aberrant crypt foci formed and determination of colon antioxidant levels. MEMC was also subjected to HPLC analysis.

RESULTS

The extract exerted significant (p < 0.05): (i) anti-carcinogenesis activity, indicated by a decrease in the total aberrant crypt formation; (ii) antioxidant activity by increasing the colon tissue antioxidant markers [i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH)] and reducing the oxidant marker (i.e., malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in comparison with the cancer group. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of rutin.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Muntingia calabura leaves exert anticancer effect against AOM-induced colon cancer possibly via the action of flavonoids on the colon tissue antioxidant activity.

Integrative hepatoprotective efficacy comparison of raw and vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri using nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics

Radix Bupleuri (RB), with a Chinese name Chaihu, is one of the most popular Traditional Chinese herbal drug. It can be baked with vinegar to afford vinegar-baked Radix Bupleuri (VBRB), which is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for liver diseases treatment. In the present study, nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomic approach was used to compare the liver protective effect of RB and two types of VBRBs, which were prepared by two kinds of vinegar. The contents of 14 metabolites in the liver of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) treated mice were significantly altered in comparison with control group, and VBRB prepared by Shanxi vinegar showed best effect as revealed by the amount and regulatory degree of the perturbed metabolites. The metabolism pathways analysis showed that the liver protective effect was related with the energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone body metabolism, glutathione metabolism, amino acids metabolism and nucleotide synthesis. The results presented here showed that metabolomic approach made it possible to disclose the subtle biological difference between two types of VBRB, which highlight the potential of metabolomic approach to quantitatively compare the pharmacological effect of the herbal drugs.

Inulin-type fructan and infusion of Artemisia vulgaris protect the liver against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver injury

BACKGROUND

Infusions of aerial parts of Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asteraceae) are used in herbal medicine to treat several disorders, including hepatosis.

PURPOSE

Evaluation of in vivo hepatoprotective effects of A. vulgaris infusion (VI) and inulin (VPI; i.e., the major polysaccharide of VI).

STUDY DESIGN

The hepatoprotective effect of A. vulgaris extracts on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced hepatotoxicity and the probable mechanism involved in this protection were investigated in mice.

METHODS

A. vulgaris infusion (VI) was prepared according to folk medicine using the aerial parts of the plant. Carbohydrate, protein, and total phenolic content was determined in VI, and its phenolic profile was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Male Swiss mice were orally pretreated for 7 days with VI or VPI (once per day). On days 6 and 7 of treatment, the mice were intraperitoneally challenged with CCl₄. Liver and blood were collected and markers of hepatic damage in plasma and oxidative stress in the liver were analyzed. Hepatic histology and inflammatory parameters were also studied in the liver. The scavenging activity of VI and VPI were evaluated in vitro using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay.

RESULTS

VI contained 40% carbohydrates, 2.9% proteins and 9.8% phenolic compounds. The HPLC fingerprint analysis of VI revealed chlorogenic, caffeic and dicaffeoylquinic acids as major low-molar-mass constituents. Oral pretreatment with VI and VPI significantly attenuated CCl₄-induced liver damage, reduced the activity of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in plasma, and prevented reactive oxygen species accumulation and lipid peroxidation in the liver. Comparisons with the CCl₄-treated group showed that VI and VPI completely prevented necrosis, increased the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH), and reduced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level in the liver. VI and VPI also exhibited high radical scavenging activity in vitro.

CONCLUSION

VI and VPI had remarkable hepatoprotective effects in vivo, which were likely attributable to antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. The present findings support the traditional use of A. vulgaris infusion for the treatment of hepatic disorders.

Effective compounds in the fruit of Muntingia calabura Linn. cultivated in Taiwan evaluated with scavenging free radicals and suppressing LDL oxidation

The effective antioxidant compounds ofM. calaburaLinn. fruit.

Licorice extract attenuates brain aging of d-galactose induced rats through inhibition of oxidative stress and attenuation of neuronal apoptosis

A potential protective mechanism of licorice for d-galactose induced aging in rats.

Molecular mechanisms of the effects of the ethanolic extract of Muntingia calabura Linn. fruit on lipopolysaccharide-induced pro-inflammatory mediators in macrophages

The anti-inflammatory effect and mechanisms ofM. calaburaLinn. fruit.

Urine metabolomics study on the liver injury in rats induced by raw and processed Polygonum multiflorum integrated with pattern recognition and pathways analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Polygonum multiflorum L. is a famous traditional Chinese medicine that has always been perceived to be safe. Recently, the increasing case reports on hepatotoxicity induced by Raw P. multiflorum (RP) have attracted particular attention. However, the diagnosis and identification of RP-induced hepatotoxicity are still very difficult for its unknown mechanism and the lack of specific biomarkers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To further explore the toxicity and metabolic mechanisms involved in the hepatotoxicity induced by RP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The hepatotoxicity induced by RP and its processed products (PP) (dosed at 20g/kg for 4 weeks) on rats were investigated using conventional approaches including the biochemical analysis and histopathological observations. Further, a urinary metabolomic approach was developed to study the metabolic disturbances caused by RP and PP, followed by the pattern recognition approach and pathways analysis.

RESULTS

RP showed obvious hepatotoxity whereas PP did not. 16 potential biomarkers (pyridoxamine, 4-pyridoxic acid, citrate et al.) differentially expressed in RP group were identified compared with the control and PP-treated groups. The pathways analysis showed that vitamin B6 metabolism, tryptophan metabolism and citrate cycle might be the major enriched pathways involved in the hepatotoxicity of the herb.

CONCLUSION

16 differentially expressed metabolites were identified to be involved in the RP-induced hepatotoxicity. Vitamin B6 metabolism might be mostly related to the hepatotoxicity induced by RP. This finding may provide a potential therapeutic target or option to treat hepatotoxicity induced by RP.

Metabolomic Study on Idiosyncratic Liver Injury Induced by Different Extracts of Polygonum multiflorum in Rats Integrated with Pattern Recognition and Enriched Pathways Analysis

Currently, numerous liver injury cases related to a famous Chinese herb- Polygonum Multiflorum (Heshouwu in Chinese) have attracted great attention in many countries. Our previous work showed that Heshouwu-induced hepatotoxicity belonged to idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury (IDILI). Unfortunately, the components and mechanisms attributed to IDILI of Heshouwu are difficult to determine and thus remain unknown. Attempts to explore puzzles, we prepared the chloroform (CH)-, ethyl acetate (EA)-, and residue (RE) extracts of Heshouwu to investigate IDILI constituents and underlying mechanisms, using biochemistry, histopathology, and metabolomics examinations. The results showed that co-treatment with non-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and EA extract could result in evident liver injury, indicated by the significant elevation of plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities, as well as obvious liver histologic damage; whereas other two separated fractions, CH and RE extracts, failed to induce observable liver injury. Furthermore, 21 potential metabolomic biomarkers that differentially expressed in LPS/EA group compared with other groups without liver injury were identified by untargeted metabolomics, mainly involved two pathways: tricarboxylic acid cycle and sphingolipid metabolism. This work illustrated EA extract had close association with the idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity of Heshouwu and provided a metabolomic insight into IDILI of different extracts from Heshouwu.

Metabolomics Coupled with Multivariate Data and Pathway Analysis on Potential Biomarkers in Cholestasis and Intervention Effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall

Background: The dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PLP) is a classical Chinese herbal medicine that has been used to treat hepatic disease for 1000s of years. Our previous work suggested that PLP can be used to treat hepatitis with severe cholestasis. This study explored the mechanism by which PLP affects ANIT-induced cholestasis in rats using a metabolomics approach.

Methods: The effects of PLP on serum indices (TBIL, DBIL, AST, ALT, ALP, and TBA) and the histopathology of the liver were analyzed. Moreover, UHPLC-Q-TOF was performed to identify the possible effect of PLP on metabolites. The pathway analysis was conducted to illustrate the pathways and network by which PLP treats cholestasis.

Result: High-dose PLP remarkably down-regulated the serum indices and alleviated histological damage to the liver. Metabolomics analyses showed that the therapeutic effect of high-dose PLP is mainly associated with the regulation of several metabolites, such as glycocholic acid, taurocholic acid, glycochenodeoxycholic acid, L(D)-arginine, and L-tryptophan. A pathway analysis showed that the metabolites were related to bile acid secretion and amino acid metabolism. In addition, the significant changes in bile acid transporters also indicated that bile acid metabolism might be involved in the therapeutic effect of PLP on cholestasis. Moreover, a principal component analysis indicated that the metabolites in the high-dose PLP group were closer to those of the control, whereas those of the moderate dose or low-dose PLP group were closer to those of the ANIT group. This finding indicated that metabolites may be responsible for the differences between the effects of low-dose and moderate-dose PLP.

Conclusion: The therapeutic effect of high-dose PLP on cholestasis is possibly related to regulation of bile acid secretion and amino acid metabolism. Moreover, these findings may help better understand the mechanisms of disease and provide a potential therapy for cholestasis.

Ginseng alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced hepatotoxicity via reversing disordered homeostasis of glutathione and bile acid

Cyclophosphamide (CP), a chemotherapeutic agent, is restricted due to its side effects, especially hepatotoxicity. Ginseng has often been clinically used with CP in China, but whether and how ginseng reduces the hepatotoxicity is unknown. In this study, the hepatoprotective effects and mechanisms under the combined usage were investigated. It was found that ginseng could ameliorate CP-induced elevations of ALP, ALT, ALS, MDA and hepatic deterioration, enhance antioxidant enzymes’ activities and GSH’s level. Metabolomics study revealed that 33 endogenous metabolites were changed by CP, 19 of which were reversed when ginseng was co-administrated via two main pathways, i.e., GSH metabolism and primary bile acids synthesis. Furthermore, ginseng could induce expression of GCLC, GCLM, GS and GST, which associate with the disposition of GSH, and expression of FXR, CYP7A1, NTCP and MRP 3, which play important roles in the synthesis and transport of bile acids. In addition, NRF 2, one of regulatory elements on the expression of GCLC, GCLM, GS, GST, NTCP and MRP3, was up-regulated when ginseng was co-administrated. In conclusion, ginseng could alleviate CP-induced hepatotoxicity via modulating the disordered homeostasis of GSH and bile acid, which might be mediated by inducing the expression of NRF 2 in liver.