Hepatoprotection of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis on rats

Integrated lipidomic and transcriptomics to explore the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Herpetospermum pedunculosum on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Herpetospermum pedunculosum (Ser.) C.B. Clarke (HP), a traditional Tibetan medicine used to treat hepatobiliary diseases, was confirmed that lignans-enriched ethyl acetate extract of HP (EAHP) could alleviate the hepatic injury by modern pharmacological evidence. However, the effects and potential mechanisms of EAHP against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To reveal the effects of EAHP on NAFLD and explore the potential mechanisms from the perspective of lipidomics and transcriptomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

UPLC‒Q-TOF‒MS analysis was carried out to investigate the chemical components of EAHP. A Choline-deficient, L-amino acid defined, high fat diet (CDAHFD) was used to establish a NAFLD mouse model. The anti-NAFLD effects of various dosages of EAHP were evaluated by biochemical indexes and histological analysis. Hepatic lipidomic and transcriptomic analysis and multiple bioinformatics methods were used to screen biomarkers and signaling pathways. The levels of the corresponding genes were verified by qPCR.

RESULTS

36 kinds of compounds were identified by UPLC‒Q-TOF‒MS analysis. Oral treatment with EAHP significantly decrease the liver index and the levels of ALT and AST in the serum. The measurements lipid content and Oil Red O staining results suggested that EAHP ameliorated lipid metabolism disorders by reducing the content of TG and LDL-C, increasing HDL-C in the liver. H&E staining and ELISA revealed that EAHP restored hepatic inflammatory infiltration and decrease the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and increase IL-10 in the serum. Lipidomic analysis showed that EAHP could regulate CDAHFD-induced lipid metabolic disorder. The different lipid metabolites included TG, phosphatidyl choline (PC), diacylglycerol (DG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), ceramide (Cer). Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Bmp8b, Nbl1, Rgma, Sphk1, Thbs1, and Ugt8a were important regulators, which were associated with TGF-β signaling pathway and sphingolipid metabolism. The expressions of above genes detected by were qPCR consistent with transcriptomic data.

CONCLUSIONS

The ameliorative effects of EAHP on NAFLD are potentially attributable to the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism and TGF-β signaling pathway, etc., which results in abnormal hepatic lipid metabolism and inflammatory response.

Integrated network pharmacology, transcriptomics and metabolomics to explore the material basis and mechanism of Danggui-Baishao herb pair for treating hepatic fibrosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The Danggui-Baishao herb pair (DB) is commonly used as Chinese herbal formulas for treating hepatic fibrosis (HF). However, there are few research on the combined application of the two drugs in treating HF, and the precise mechanisms and fundamental components of DB in addressing HF are still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The intention of this research is to identify the molecular foundation and functional targets of DB to elucidate the mechanisms for treating HF.

METHODS

The ingredients absorbed from DB in rat plasma were analyzed using UPLC-QE-MS. Therapeutic efficacy of DB in a rat model of CCl4-induced HF assessed using biochemical indices, pathological tissue observations, immunohistochemical and western blotting. An integrated strategy of transcriptomics, metabolomics, and network pharmacology was then utilized to explain the possible material basis and mechanisms of DB for treating HF. Western blotting was carried out to verify the critical mechanism.

RESULTS

DB reduced the level of liver function and inflammation related indicators in CCl4-induced HF (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), as well as ameliorated pathological histological changes, and reduced the expressions of collagen type I (Col-I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Nineteen ingredients absorbed from DB were identified. Comprehensive investigations of transcriptomics, metabolomics, and network pharmacology revealed that DB modulated the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway to ameliorate fibrosis induced by CCl4 in HF rats. According to the molecular docking results, core tagets were highly favored by kaempferol, benzoylpaeoniflorin, albiflorin, paeoniflorin, and levistilide A.

CONCLUSIONS

The possible mechanisms for DB treatment of HF include decreasing the activity of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), decreasing collagen synthesis and deposition, attenuating the hepatic inflammatory response, inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis, and increasing the level of niacinamide (NAM), thus exerting its anti-HF effect.

Progress based on a multi-omics research strategy in the biosynthesis and modernization of active ingredients of Herpetospermum pedunculosum seeds

Herpetospermum pedunculosum seeds also known as Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. is the mature seed of the Herpetospermum pedunculosum(Ser.) C. B. Clarke,Cucurbitaceae. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that H. pedunculosum has hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-gout and antibacterial pharmacological activities. The biologically active chemical components include lignin compounds such as Herpetin, Herpetetrone, Herpetoriol and so on. The natural product displays considerable skeletal diversity and structural complexity, offering significant opportunities for novel drug discovery. Based on the multi-omics research strategy and the 'gene-protein-metabolite' research framework, the biosynthetic pathway of terpenoids and lignans in H. pedunculosum has has been elucidated at multiple levels. These approaches provide comprehensive genetic information for cloning and identification of pertinent enzyme genes. Furthermore, the application of multi-omics integrative approaches provides a scientific means to elucidate entire secondary metabolic pathways. We investigated the biosynthetic pathways of lignin and terpene components in H. pedunculosum and conducted bioinformatics analysis of the crucial enzyme genes involved in the biosynthetic process using genomic and transcriptomic data. We identified candidate genes for six key enzymes in the biosynthetic pathway. This review reports on the current literature on pharmacological investigations of H. pedunculosum, proposing its potential as an antidiabetic agent. Moreover, we conclude, for the first time, the identification of key enzyme genes potentially involved in the biosynthesis of active compounds in H. pedunculosum. This review provides a scientific foundation for the discovery of novel therapeutic agents from natural sources.

Integrative analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome provides insights into the mechanisms of lignan biosynthesis in Herpetospermum pedunculosum (Cucurbitaceae)

BACKGROUND

Herpetospermum pedunculosum (Ser.) C. B. Clarke is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that heavily relies on the lignans found in its dried ripe seeds (Herpetospermum caudigerum), which have antioxidant and hepatoprotective functions. However, little is known regarding the lignan biosynthesis in H. pedunculosum. In this study, we used metabolomic (non-targeted UHPLC-MS/MS) and transcriptome (RNA-Seq) analyses to identify key metabolites and genes (both structural and regulatory) associated with lignan production during the green mature (GM) and yellow mature (YM) stages of H. pedunculosum.

RESULTS

The contents of 26 lignan-related metabolites and the expression of 30 genes involved in the lignan pathway differed considerably between the GM and YM stages; most of them were more highly expressed in YM than in GM. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS confirmed that three Herpetospermum-specific lignans (including herpetrione, herpetotriol, and herpetin) were found in YM, but were not detected in GM. In addition, we proposed a lignan biosynthesis pathway for H. pedunculosum based on the fundamental principles of chemistry and biosynthesis. An integrated study of the transcriptome and metabolome identified several transcription factors, including HpGAF1, HpHSFB3, and HpWOX1, that were highly correlated with the metabolism of lignan compounds during seed ripening. Furthermore, functional validation assays revealed that the enzyme 4-Coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL) catalyzes the synthesis of hydroxycinnamate CoA esters.

CONCLUSION

These results will deepen our understanding of seed lignan biosynthesis and establish a theoretical basis for molecular breeding of H. pedunculosum.

Total cucurbitacins from Herpetospermum pedunculosum pericarp do better than Hu-lu-su-pian (HLSP) in its safety and hepatoprotective efficacy

The pericarp of Herpetospermum pedunculosum (HPP) has traditionally been used for treating jaundice and hepatitis. However, the specific hepatoprotective components and their safety/efficacy profiles remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize the total cucurbitacins (TCs) extracted from HPP and evaluate their hepatoprotective potential. As a reference, Hu-lu-su-pian (HLSP), a known hepatoprotective drug containing cucurbitacins, was used for comparison of chemical composition, effects, and safety. Molecular networking based on UHPLC-MS/MS identified cucurbitacin B, isocucurbitacin B, and cucurbitacin E as the major components in TCs, comprising 70.3%, 26.1%, and 3.6% as determined by RP-HPLC, respectively. TCs treatment significantly reversed CCl4-induced metabolic changes associated with liver damage in a dose-dependent manner, impacting pathways including energy metabolism, oxidative stress and phenylalanine metabolism, and showed superior efficacy to HLSP. Safety evaluation also showed that TCs were safe, with higher LD50 and no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) values than HLSP. The median lethal dose (LD50) and NOAEL values of TCs were 36.21 and 15 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively, while the LD50 of HLSP was 14 mg/kg BW. In summary, TCs extracted from HPP demonstrated promising potential as a natural hepatoprotective agent, warranting further investigation into synergistic effects of individual cucurbitacin components.

Cannabis sativa L. roots from Northeast Brazil reduce abdominal contortions in a mouse model of primary dysmenorrhea

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Although the root of Cannabis sativa L. has been mentioned in some regions, such as the Vale do São Francisco, for its potential traditional medicinal use as an anti-inflammatory, anti-asthmatic, and against gastrointestinal diseases, it has received little exploration and discussion.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to perform a chemical analysis of an aqueous extract of Cannabis sativa roots (AqECsR) and evaluate its pharmacological effects against uterine disorders, in vivo and ex vivo, in rodents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The roots were provided by the Brazilian Federal Police, and the freeze-dried extract was used for the chemical analysis of the AqECsR by high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The sample was subsequently used in three doses for pharmacological assays (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg), which included the spasmolytic activity test and the primary dysmenorrhea test. The primary dysmenorrhea test aimed to verify the effect of AqECsR on induced abdominal contortions in female mice in vivo and to perform a morphometric analysis of the organs. Association tests at subtherapeutic doses of AqECsR with antidysmenorrheic drugs were also performed.

RESULTS

The data obtained by HPLC-MS suggested the presence of four substances: cannabisativine, anhydrocannabisativine, feruloyltyramine, and p-coumaroyltyramine. In the pharmacological assays, the AqECsR showed no spasmolytic effect. However, in the antidysmenorrheal activity test, AqECsR demonstrated a significant in vivo effect of reducing oxytocin-induced abdominal contortions. Morphometric analysis of the uterus showed no significant organ enlargement effect, and the association of AqECsR with subtherapeutic doses of three drugs used in antidysmenorrheal therapy (mefenamic acid, scopolamine, and nifedipine) showed an effect in reducing abdominal contortions.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, AqECsR contains four chemical compounds and exhibits an antidysmenorrheic effect both alone and in association with drugs, reducing abdominal contortions in female mice without generating organ enlargement in the animals. Further studies are needed to prove the mechanism of action by which AqECsR promotes its effect on primary dysmenorrhea and to explore its associations.

Herpetrione, a New Type of PPARα Ligand as a Therapeutic Strategy Against Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, especially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a leading cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer worldwide; nevertheless, there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for treating NASH until now. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) is an interesting therapeutic target for treating metabolic disorders in the clinic, including NASH. Herpetrione, a natural lignan compound isolated from Tibetan medicine Herpetospermum caudigerum, exerts various hepatoprotective effects, but its efficacy and molecular mechanism in treating NASH have not yet been elucidated. Here, we discovered that herpetrione lessened lipid accumulation and inflammation in hepatocytes stimulated with oleic acid and lipopolysaccharide, and effectively alleviated NASH caused by a high-fat diet or methionine-choline-deficient diet by regulating glucolipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammation. Mechanistically, RNA-sequencing analyses further showed that herpetrione activated PPAR signaling, which was validated by protein expression. Furthermore, the analysis of molecular interactions illustrated that herpetrione bound directly to the PPARα protein, with binding sites extending to the Arm III domain. PPARα deficiency also abrogated the protective effects of herpetrione against NASH, suggesting that herpetrione protects against hepatic steatosis and inflammation by activation of PPARα signaling, thereby alleviating NASH. Our findings shed light on the efficacy of a natural product for treating NASH, as well as the broader prospects for NASH treatment by targeting PPARα.

Water extract from Herpetospermum pedunculosum attenuates oxidative stress and ferroptosis induced by acetaminophen via regulating Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The seeds of Herpetospermum pedunculosum seeds is a traditional Tibetan medicine possessing hepatoprotective effect, but their protective effect on APAP-induced liver injury has not yet been explored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed at exploring the protective effect and mechanism of the water extract from the seeds of Herpetospermum pedunculosum (HPWE) on APAP-induced liver injury in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro and in vivo models of liver injury were established by APAP treatment of BRL-3A cells or mice. The effect and mechanism of action of HPWE were explored by using cell viability assay, ELISA, immunofluorescence assay, RT-qPCR, histological observation and immunohistochemistry staining, western blotting and high-content imaging system.

RESULTS

In vitro experiments showed that HPWE treatment significantly promoted the cell viability, decreased ALT/AST level, and inhibited the ROS accumulation induced by APAP. Furthermore, HPWE and Fer-1 alleviated erastin-induced cell ferroptosis, upregulated GPX4 and SLC7A11 expression, and reduced lipid peroxides production. Further study showed that APAP could also downregulate the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11, causing cell ferroptosis, and HPWE and Fer-1 counteracted this process. Our in vivo experiments showed that pretreatment with HPWE in APAP-treated mice significantly alleviated the serum ALT/AST level, decreased necrotic cells and inflammatory cell infiltration, upregulated the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11. Further, it was demonstrated that HPWE treatment downregulated Nrf2 and its downstream target genes, i.e. HO-1 and NQO1 expression at the mRNA and protein levels. HPWE treatment also inhibited the activation of NF-κB p65 and downregulated its target genes, i.e. TNF-α and IL-1β, expression.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that HPWE could relieve oxidative stress and ferroptosis via activating Nrf2 signaling pathway and inhibiting NF-κB mediated pathway.

Tibetan medicine Si-Wei-Qiang-Wei Powder ameliorates cholecystitis via inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and regulating the MAPK signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Si-Wei-Qiang-Wei Powder (SWQ) is a formulated traditional Tibetan medicine preparation that has been used clinically to treat liver and gallbladder diseases for centuries. Previous work has confirmed its clinical effectiveness, however, the specific mechanism of SWQ is still unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of SWQ on cholecystitis and its possible mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main chemical components of SWQ were analyzed by HPLC. The network pharmacology database was used to screen and construct the network of the main components and molecular targets of SWQ, and to predict the molecular pathways of its core targets. Cholecystitis guinea pig model and LPS stimulated cultured human gallbladder epithelial cells (HGBEC) were used, as in vivo and in vitro methods respectively, to study the anti-cholecystitis activity of SWQ. Specifically, gallbladder wall thickness, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and liver function indexes were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activities of SWQ in cholecystitis; qRT-PCR and ELISA were used to detect the changes of the production of inflammatory cytokines; Western blot analysis was used to analyze the effects of SWQ on phosphorylation of P38, ERK1/2, JNK and AKT.

RESULTS

SWQ decreased the indexes of ALT, AST, TBA, CHOL, DBIL in serum and TBIL, TC and Ca²⁺ in bile, and alleviated the wall thickness of gallbladder and hepatobiliary fibrosis in LCA-induced guinea pigs. In addition, SWQ attenuated the expression and production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2 both in liver and gallbladder. Moreover, SWQ reversed the up-regulation of p-P38, p-ERK1/2, and p-JNK in animals with cholecystitis and LPS-induced HGBEC. Furthermore, mechanistic studies indicated that SWQ inhibited the activation of ERK1/2, thereby decreasing the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and phosphorylation P38 and JNK.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our research showed that SWQ relieves gallbladder inflammation by inhibiting the MAPK pathway.

Exploration of the Protective Mechanism of Naringin in the Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatic Injury by Metabolomics

Naringin is a dihydroflavone which was found in citrus fruits. Previous studies have indicated the antiapoptotic, antioxidative stress, and anti-inflammatory effects of naringin. It can improve many common diseases, including fibrosis or hepatotoxicity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a frequently used painkiller, and hepatotoxic side effects limit its use. The purpose of the current examination is to find the impact of naringin on APAP-induced hepatic injury. Firstly, we pretreated mice model groups with naringin. Then, the liver injury model was established by injecting intraperitoneally into mice with APAP. After the mice were euthanized, we obtained serum and liver tissue samples from the mice. Finally, these samples were analyzed using a metabolomics approach to find the underlying mechanism of the effects of naringin on APAP-induced liver injury and provide a new treatment strategy for APAP-induced liver injury. Our data indicate that naringin significantly improves APAP-induced liver injury in mice and reduces the expression levels of liver injury markers in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, analysis of differential metabolites in mice with liver injury showed that naringin reduced APAP-induced hepatotoxicity due to reversing multiple metabolite expression levels and the rescue of energy, amino acid, and purine metabolism.

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.

Integrative Analysis of the Gut Microbiota and Metabolome in Obese Mice with Electroacupuncture by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and HPLC-MS-based Metabolic Profiling

Acupuncture has been used to treat numerous diseases such as obesity in China for thousands of years. Several mechanisms of acupuncture on obesity have been surveyed based on metabolomics, but the effects of acupuncture on the alterations in the gut flora are still unclear. In this study, an integrated approach based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) metabolic profiling was conducted to investigate the effects of acupuncture on high-fat-diet-induced obesity through the regulation of the relative abundances of gut microbiota and their relationships with biomarker candidates. A total of 10 significantly altered bacterial genera and 11 metabolites were recognized, which recovered to normal levels after electroacupuncture treatment. The relative abundances of the bacterial families Muribaculaceae,Lachnospiraceae,Desulfovibrionaceae,Helicobacteraceae, Prevotellaceae,Ruminococcaceae,Rikenellaceae,Deferribacteraceae,Bacteroidaceae andTannerellaceaewere remarkedly changed among the three groups. Potential biomarkers, including LysoPC(0:0/16:0) ([Formula: see text]1),PC(0:0/18:0) ([Formula: see text]2),Cholic acid([Formula: see text]3),LysoPC(16:0) ([Formula: see text]4), 3[Formula: see text],6[Formula: see text],7[Formula: see text]-Trihydroxy-5[Formula: see text]-cholanoic acid([Formula: see text]5), 5beta-Cyprinolsulfate([Formula: see text]6),PC(18:0/0:0) ([Formula: see text]7), 1-Nitro-5-hydroxy-6-glutathionyl-5,6-dihydronaphthalene([Formula: see text]8),Glycocholic acid([Formula: see text]9),[Formula: see text]-Arginine([Formula: see text]10) andGulonic acid([Formula: see text]11), were involved in several metabolic pathways, such as the glycerophospholipid metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis. Interestingly, there was a strong correlation between the perturbed gut flora in Bilophila and Bifidobacterium and the altered intestinal metabolite of 3[Formula: see text],6[Formula: see text],7[Formula: see text]-Trihydroxy-5[Formula: see text]-cholanoic acid and Cholanoic acid and [Formula: see text]-Arginine. This finding suggested that the effects of electroacupuncture might change the proportions of Bilophila and Bifidobacterium by regulating the constituents of the functional metabolite of 3[Formula: see text],6[Formula: see text],7[Formula: see text]-Trihydroxy-5[Formula: see text]-cholanoic acid and Cholanoic acid and [Formula: see text]-Arginine. These results indicated that the effects of electroacupuncture focused on custom metabolic pathways as well as depend on the changes in the gut microbiota in obesity. These findings suggest that the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and HPLC-MS-based metabolomics approach can be applied to comprehensively assess the effects of traditional Chinese medicines.

Lignans from the seeds of Herpetospermum pedunculosum and their farnesoid X receptor-activating effect

The seeds of Herpetospermum pedunculosum (Ser.) C.B. Clarke, a well-known Tibetan medicine in China, are rich in kinds of bioactive lignans. In this phytochemical investigation on H. pedunculosum, sixteen undescribed lignans, named as herpedulins A - P together with 24 known ones were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of its seeds. Their structures including the absolute configurations were determined by HR MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and comparison of their experimental ECD spectra with calculated ones or literature data. High content screening experiments revealed that 9 compounds could promote the expression of farnesoid X receptor in guggulsterone-induced human normal liver cells L02 cells significantly. Further molecular docking results demonstrated that herpedulin E, J and K exhibited best docking scores (9.70, 9.28 and 10.31, respectively). Hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions might contribute to the main interaction of active compounds with FXR.

Structural characterization and amelioration of sulfated polysaccharides from Ganoderma applanatum residue against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity

Natural polysaccharides and their derivatives have attracted academic attention due to their extensive physiological activities. However, the hepatoprotective effects against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) toxicity have not been well elucidated. The objectives of this study were to characterize the structural properties of sulfated Ganoderma applanatum residue polysaccharides (SGRP) and to evaluate their inhibitory effects on liver fibrosis caused by oxidative stress and inflammation. Our in vivo study showed that SGRP was hepatoprotective in CCl₄-induced chronic liver injury mice. It reduced the histopathological damages, down-regulated CYP2E1 (cytochrome P450 2E1) expression, reduced serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, improved the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, inhibited TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, and reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines. The structural studies indicated that SGRP is a heteropolysaccharide with 7.8% sulfur content and α-linked residue. Our study projects SGRP as a potential candidate in anti-fibrosis treatment by using it as a food supplement or in medicines produced by pharmaceutical industries.

Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study of herpetotriol in rats by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Herpetotriol, a typical lignan in Herpetospermum pedunculosum Wall's seeds that has long been used to treat icterhepatitis and indigestion and other related diseases in Tibet, is of potential hepatoprotection. This study aims to study the pharmacokinetics features of herpetotriol, including the blood drug concentration - time curve and tissue distribution. The ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was established to detect herpetotriol concentration in plasma and tissues, and the method showed good linearity from 10 to 2000 ng/mL (r ≥ 0.9972) and sensitivity (≥10 ng/mL). Our blood drug concentration - time curve indicated that herpetotriol was distributed quickly in rats with a T_max value at about 0.083 h and eliminated rapidly with a clearance rate at 98.13 ± 8.05 and 137.04 ± 9.48 L·h^-1·kg^-1 with doses of 5 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively. Although herpetotriol was detectable in all tested tissues, it has a higher concentration in liver than in heart, lung, spleen, and kidney, which is in line with its hepatoprotection. The pharmacokinetics features uncovered by the present study could provide more information for future pharmacological and toxicological study of herpetotriol.

Metabolomic and Lipidomic Biomarkers for Premalignant Liver Disease Diagnosis and Therapy

In recent years, there has been a plethora of attempts to discover biomarkers that are more reliable than α-fetoprotein for the early prediction and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Efforts have involved such fields as genomics, transcriptomics, epigenetics, microRNA, exosomes, proteomics, glycoproteomics, and metabolomics. HCC arises against a background of inflammation, steatosis, and cirrhosis, due mainly to hepatic insults caused by alcohol abuse, hepatitis B and C virus infection, adiposity, and diabetes. Metabolomics offers an opportunity, without recourse to liver biopsy, to discover biomarkers for premalignant liver disease, thereby alerting the potential of impending HCC. We have reviewed metabolomic studies in alcoholic liver disease (ALD), cholestasis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Specificity was our major criterion in proposing clinical evaluation of indole-3-lactic acid, phenyllactic acid, N-lauroylglycine, decatrienoate, N-acetyltaurine for ALD, urinary sulfated bile acids for cholestasis, cervonoyl ethanolamide for fibrosis, 16α-hydroxyestrone for cirrhosis, and the pattern of acyl carnitines for NAFL and NASH. These examples derive from a large body of published metabolomic observations in various liver diseases in adults, adolescents, and children, together with animal models. Many other options have been tabulated. Metabolomic biomarkers for premalignant liver disease may help reduce the incidence of HCC.

Determining the protective effects of Yin-Chen-Hao Tang against acute liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC/MS-based metabolomics

Yin-Chen-Hao Tang (YCHT), consisting of Artemisia annua L., Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, and Rheum Palmatum L., has been used to relieve liver diseases in China for thousands of years. Several protective mechanisms of YCHT on liver injury have been investigated based on metabolomics, but the effects of YCHT on the alterations in the gut microbiota are still unclear. In this study, an integrated approach based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) metabolic profiling was performed to assess the effects of YCHT on liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) through the regulation of the relative abundances of gut microbiota and their relationships with biomarker candidates. A total of twelve significantly altered bacterial genera and nine metabolites were identified, which returned to normal levels after YCHT treatment. The relative abundances of the identified microbiota, including significantly elevated amounts of p_Firmicutes, c_Clostridia, o_Clostridiales, f_Ruminococcaceae, g_[Eubacterium]_coprostanoligenes_group, s_uncultured_bacterium_f_Lachnospiraceae and remarkedly increased amounts of p_Bacteroidetes, c_Bacteroidia, o_Bacteroidales, f_Bacteroidaceae, g_Bacteroides and s_uncultured_bacterium_g_Bacteroides, were found in model rats compared with controls. Potential biomarkers, including lower levels of LysoPC (16:1(9Z)/0:0), LysoPC (20:3(5Z,8Z,11Z)), LysoPC (17:0), LysoPC (20:1(11Z)) and 3-hydroxybutyric acid and higher amounts of ornithine, L-kynurenine, hippuric acid and taurocholic acid are involved in several custom metabolic pathways, such as arginine and proline metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and primary bile acid biosynthesis. Interestingly, there was a strong correlation between the perturbed gut microbiota in genera c_Clostridia and o_Clostridiales and the altered plasma metabolite 3-hydroxybutyric acid. This finding means that the hepatoprotective effects of YCHT may be due to the regulation of the production of the functional metabolite 3-hydroxybutyric acid through changes in the proportions of c_Clostridia and o_Clostridiales. These results showed that the hepatoprotective effects of YCHT not only focused on custom metabolic pathways but also depended on the changes in the gut microbiota in liver injury. These findings suggest that the 16S rRNA gene sequencing and LC-MS based metabolomics approach can be applied to comprehensively evaluate the effects of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs).

Efficiency of Sophora flavescens-Fructus Ligustri Lucidi Drug Pairs in the Treatment of Liver Fibrosis Based on the Response Surface Method

The pairing of Sophora flavescens and Fructus Ligustri lucidi is taken from Shi Jinmo Medicine. The idea behind this pairing was inspired by the similarity in pharmacological effects of the two herbal drugs, both of which are known to be effective in the treatment and protection against liver fibrosis. To quantitatively study the extent of the interaction between these drugs and the effect of pairing on the treatment of liver fibrosis, an animal model of liver fibrosis mice was established by intraperitoneal injection of low-dose carbon tetrachloride. The drugs were then administered individually, or in predefined compatibility ratio pairs, by gavage, and the effects on indexes of liver fibrosis were observed. The multisynthetic index method was adopted using Matlab software in order to construct a three-dimensional response surface map of the integration effect and conduct interaction analysis of Sophora flavescens and Fructus Ligustri lucidi. The quadratic surface fitting pattern was designed by quadratic regression to determine the optimal range of each drug. The obtained results show that when the compatibility ratio of Sophora flavescens-Fructus Ligustri lucidi drug pairs is less than or equal to 1:1, their therapeutic effect is enhanced by synergy (interaction value ranging between -0.2 and -1). Overall, the synergy of the high-dose drug pairs is stronger than that of the low-dose drug pairs. The optimal dose ranges are 6~12 g and 8~17 g for Sophora flavescens and Fructus Ligustri lucidi, respectively.