Ferulic acid attenuates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation through inhibition of the ROCK/NF-κB signaling pathways

Ferulic acid alleviates cardiac injury by inhibiting avermectin-induced oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis

Avermectin (AVM) is a broad-spectrum antibiotic from the macrolide class, extensively employed in fisheries and aquaculture. Nevertheless, its indiscriminate utilisation has resulted in a substantial accumulation of remnants in the aquatic ecosystem, potentially inflicting significant harm to the cardiovascular system of aquatic species. Ferulic acid (FA) is a naturally occurring compound in wheat grain husks. It possesses potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help reduce cardiovascular damage. Additionally, its affordability makes it an excellent option for aquaculture usage as a feed additive. This article explored the potential of FA as a feed additive to protect against AVM-induced heart damage in carp. We subjected carp to AVM for 30 days and provided them with a diet of 400 mg/kg of FA. FA substantially reduced the pathogenic damage to heart tissue caused by AVM, as shown through hematoxylin-eosin staining. The biochemical analysis revealed that FA markedly enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) while reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, qPCR analysis demonstrated a substantial increase in the mRNA levels of transforming growth factor-β1 (tgf-β1) and interleukin-10 (il-10) simultaneously, significantly reducing the expression levels of interleukin-10 (il-6), interleukin-1β (il-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (tnf-α) and inductible nitric oxide synthase (inos). Through the mitochondrial apoptotic route, FA reduced AVM-induced cell death in carp heart cells by upregulating bcl-2 while downregulating the mRNA expression levels of bax, fas, caspase8 and caspase9. In summary, FA alleviated cardiac injury by inhibiting AVM-induced oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and apoptosis in carp heart tissue.

Ferulic acid alleviates avermectin induced renal injury in carp by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Avamectin (AVM), a macrolide antibiotic, is widely used in fisheries, agriculture, and animal husbandry, however, its irrational use poses a great danger to aquatic organisms. Ferulic acid (FA) is a natural chemical found in the cell walls of plants. It absorbs free radicals from the surrounding environment and acts as an antioxidant. However, the protective effect of FA against kidney injury caused by AVM has not been demonstrated. In this study, 60 carp were divided into the control group, AVM group (2.404 μg/L), FA+AVM group and FA group (400 mg/kg). Pathological examination, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and western blot were used to evaluate the preventive effect of FA on renal tissue injury after AVM exposure. Histological findings indicated that FA significantly reduced the swelling and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the kidney tissues of carp triggered by AVM. Dihydroethidium (DHE) fluorescent probe assay showed that FA inhibited the accumulation of kidney ROS. Biochemical results showed that FA significantly increased glutathione (GSH) content, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and catalase (CAT) activity, and decreased intracellular malondialdehyde (MDA) content. In addition, western blot results revealed that the protein expression levels of Nrf2 and p-NF-κBp65 in the carp kidney were inhibited by AVM, but reversed by the FA. The qPCR results exhibited that FA significantly increased the mRNA levels of tgf-β1 and il-10, while significantly down-regulated the gene expression levels of tnf-α, il-6 and il-1β. These data suggest that FA can reduce oxidative stress and renal tissue inflammation induced by AVM. At the same time, FA inhibited the apoptosis of renal cells induced by AVM by decreasing the transcription level and protein expression level of Bax, and increasing the transcription level and protein expression level of Bcl2, PI3K and AKT. This study provides preliminary evidence for the theory that FA reduces the level of oxidative stress, inflammation response and kidney tissue damage caused by apoptosis in carp, providing a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of the AVM.

A strategy for deciphering the bioactive metabolites of Farfarae Flos by the inter-individual variability of the antitussive effect

Farfarae Flos is a commonly used traditional herb for the treatment of respiratory disorders. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with the mass defect filter method was used for the qualitative analysis of Farfarae Flos metabolites in the lung tissues. Then a method for the simultaneous determination of 14 Farfarae Flos metabolites was developed and validated in terms of specificity, linearity, precision and accuracy, matrix effect and recovery. The method was applied to compare the lung tissue of Farfarae Flos treated mice, and 10 caffeoylquinic acid metabolites were higher in the mice with better antitussive effect. Further network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking results showed that these metabolites played an important role in the antitussive effect of Farfarae Flos. This study presented a novel strategy for deciphering the active compounds of herbal medicine by inter-individual variability of bioactivities.

Human diet-derived polyphenolic compounds and hepatic diseases: From therapeutic mechanisms to clinical utilization

This review focuses on the potential ameliorative effects of polyphenolic compounds derived from human diet on hepatic diseases. It discusses the molecular mechanisms and recent advancements in clinical applications. Edible polyphenols have been found to play a therapeutic role, particularly in liver injury, liver fibrosis, NAFLD/NASH, and HCC. In the regulation of liver injury, polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, primarily targeting the TGF-β, NF-κB/TLR4, PI3K/AKT, and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. In the regulation of liver fibrosis, polyphenolic compounds effectively reverse the fibrotic process by inhibiting the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Furthermore, polyphenolic compounds show efficacy against NAFLD/NASH by inhibiting lipid oxidation and accumulation, mediated through the AMPK, SIRT, and PPARγ pathways. Moreover, several polyphenolic compounds exhibit anti-HCC activity by suppressing tumor cell proliferation and metastasis. This inhibition primarily involves blocking Akt and Wnt signaling, as well as inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, clinical trials and nutritional evidence support the notion that certain polyphenols can improve liver disease and associated metabolic disorders. However, further fundamental research and clinical trials are warranted to validate the efficacy of dietary polyphenols.

Research Progress of Natural Products with the Activity of Anti-nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a multi-target disease, is becoming a global epidemic. Although several anti-NASH drug candidates are being evaluated in late-stage clinical trials, none have been approved by the FDA to date. Given the global prevalence of the disease, the lack of effective drugs, and the very limited therapeutic efficacy of most of the existing synthetic drugs focusing on a single target, there is an urgent need to continue to develop new therapeutic agents. In contrast, many natural products, including pure compounds and crude extracts, possess hepatoprotective activities. Usually, these natural components are characterized by multi-targeting and low side effects. Therefore, natural products are important resources for the development of new anti- NASH drugs. In this paper, we focus on reviewing the anti-NASH potential, structure, and some of the side effects of natural products based on structural classification. We hope this mini-review will help researchers design and develop new anti-NASH drugs, especially based on the structure of natural products.

Ferulic acid alleviates carp brain damage and growth inhibition caused by avermectin by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and NF-κB signaling pathways

The increasing concern over environmental pollution caused by the pesticide avermectin used in aquaculture has attracted significant attention. The use of avermectin, a neurotoxic pesticide, in aquatic environments leads to toxic effects on non-target organisms, particularly causing harm to fish. The phenolic compound ferulic acid possesses excellent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. This study was conducted by establishing a chronic exposure experiment to avermectin, proposes the use of ferulic acid as a dietary additive to protect the carp brain from damage caused by exposure to avermectin. Furthermore, it investigates the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of ferulic acid in the carp brain under chronic exposure to avermectin. The experimental results demonstrate that ferulic acid can alleviate brain tissue inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 and NF-κB signaling pathways. It protects the carp brain from chronic avermectin-induced damage, preserves the integrity of the carp blood-brain barrier, enhances the levels of feeding factors, and thereby alleviates carp growth inhibition. These findings provide new therapeutic strategies and a theoretical foundation for the sustainable development of carp aquaculture.

Effects of ferulic acid on growth performance and intestinal oxidation indexes of Jilin white geese under lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress

In geese breeding, due to the frequent influence of drugs and environmental and other factors, geese are extremely prone to oxidative stress, which adversely affects growth and development, geese meat quality, down production, and severely affects the development of the geese industry. Ferulic acid from plant extracts can be used as a feed additive, which is safe and non-toxic, and it can exert certain therapeutic effects on oxidative stress in geese. This experiment investigated the effect of ferulic acid on the growth performance, organs indices, and intestinal oxidative indices of Jilin white geese under lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress. Geese were randomly divided into six groups: C (blank control), L (lipopolysaccharide control), F1 (60 mg/kg ferulic acid), F2 (120 mg/kg ferulic acid), F3 (180 mg/kg ferulic acid), and F4 (240 mg/kg ferulic acid). Groups L and F1-F4 were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide and group C with an equivalent volume of normal saline on days 14,17 and 20, and 10 animals from each group were randomly selected for slaughter on day 21. The results showed that: 1) On day 14, the final body weight and average daily feed intake were significantly higher in group F3 than in group L, and on day 21, the final body weight was significantly higher in group F3 than in group L. 2) The thymus index was significantly higher in group F4 than in group L. 4) In the duodenum, MDA activity was reduced in group C compared with that in group L. 5) In the jejunum and ileum, MDA was significantly lower in group F3 than in group L. These results show that the addition of 180 mg/kg of ferulic acid to the diet can promote the growth of geese and alleviate the damage caused by oxidative stress in all intestinal segments.

Ferulic acid as a therapeutic agent in depression: Evidence from preclinical studies

Depression is a common but severe mood disorder with a very high prevalence across the general population. Depression is of global concern and poses a threat to human physical and mental health. Ferulic acid (FA) is a natural active ingredient that has antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and free radical scavenging properties. Furthermore, studies have shown that FA can exert antidepressant effects through a variety of mechanisms. The aim of the review was to comprehensively elucidate the mechanisms in FA that alleviate depression using animal models. The in vivo (animal) studies on the mechanism of FA treatment of depression were searched in PubMed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Baidu academic, and Wan fang databases. Thereafter, the literature conclusions were summarized accordingly. Ferulic acid was found to significantly improve the depressive-like behaviors of animal models, suggesting that FA is a potential natural product in the treatment of depression. The mechanisms are achieved by enhancing monoamine oxidase A (MOA) activity, inhibiting microglia activation and inflammatory factor release, anti-oxidative stress, promoting hippocampal nerve regeneration, increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor secretion, regulating gut microbiome, and activating protein kinase B/collapsin response mediator protein 2 (AKT/CRMP2) signaling pathway. Ferulic acid produces significant antidepressant effects in animal depression models through various mechanisms, suggesting its potential value as a treatment of depression. However, clinical research trials involving FA are required further to provide a solid foundation for its clinical application.

Prediction and verification of the active ingredients and potential targets of Erhuang Quzhi Granules on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Erhuang Quzhi Granules (EQG) is a compound composed of 13 traditional Chinese medicines developed by the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University. In clinical practice, EQG has been applied to the treatment of hyperlipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and could significantly improve the serum biochemical indicators of NAFLD patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aims to explore the bioactive compounds, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of EQG against NAFLD through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical components of EQG came from the literature and quality standard. Bioactive compounds were screened based on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) feature, and their potential targets were predicted using the substructure-drug-target network-based inference (SDTNBI). The core targets and signaling pathways were obtained through the analysis of protein-protein interaction (PPI), gene ontology (GO) function, and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway. The results were further confirmed by literature retrieval, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments.

RESULTS

The results of network pharmacology showed 12 active ingredients and 10 core targets for EQG in treating NAFLD. And EQG mainly regulates lipid and atherosclerosis-related pathways to improve NAFLD. The collected literature verified the regulatory effect of the active components of EQG on core targets TP53, PPARG, EGFR, HIF1A, PPARA, and MTOR. Molecular docking results showed that Aloe-Emodin (AE), Emodin, Physcion, and Rhein (RH) had stable binding structures with the core targets HSP90AA1. In vivo experiment showed that AE and RH reduced aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL18, and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the serum or liver of NAFLD mice, improved liver lipid deposition and fibrosis, and inhibit gene expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), IL-1β, TNF-α and protein expression of HSP90, NF-κB and Cleaved caspase-1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study comprehensively revealed the biological compounds, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of EQG in the treatment of NAFLD, providing a reference basis for the promotion of EQG in the clinic.

Liver Fibrosis Resolution: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities

The liver is a critical system for metabolism in human beings, which plays an essential role in an abundance of physiological processes and is vulnerable to endogenous or exogenous injuries. After the damage to the liver, a type of aberrant wound healing response known as liver fibrosis may happen, which can result in an excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) and then cause cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), seriously endangering human health and causing a great economic burden. However, few effective anti-fibrotic medications are clinically available to treat liver fibrosis. The most efficient approach to liver fibrosis prevention and treatment currently is to eliminate its causes, but this approach's efficiency is too slow, or some causes cannot be fully eliminated, which causes liver fibrosis to worsen. In cases of advanced fibrosis, the only available treatment is liver transplantation. Therefore, new treatments or therapeutic agents need to be explored to stop the further development of early liver fibrosis or to reverse the fibrosis process to achieve liver fibrosis resolution. Understanding the mechanisms that lead to the development of liver fibrosis is necessary to find new therapeutic targets and drugs. The complex process of liver fibrosis is regulated by a variety of cells and cytokines, among which hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the essential cells, and their continued activation will lead to further progression of liver fibrosis. It has been found that inhibiting HSC activation, or inducing apoptosis, and inactivating activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) can reverse fibrosis and thus achieve liver fibrosis regression. Hence, this review will concentrate on how HSCs become activated during liver fibrosis, including intercellular interactions and related signaling pathways, as well as targeting HSCs or liver fibrosis signaling pathways to achieve the resolution of liver fibrosis. Finally, new therapeutic compounds targeting liver fibrosis are summarized to provide more options for the therapy of liver fibrosis.

Exploring the molecular mechanism of Gan Shuang granules for the treatment of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification

Background: With the gradual increase in prevalence in recent years, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become one of the significant health problems that urgently needs to be addressed worldwide. GanShuang Granules (GSG) is derived from the classical Chinese formula Xiaoyao San and mainly used in the clinical treatment of chronic liver diseases. Objective: In this study, we aim to gain a deeper insight into the inhibiting effects of GSG on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats and preliminarily elucidate the underlying intervention mechanisms. Methods: First, High performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap-MS/MS) was used for the active compounds prediction in GSG. Then the data was mapped to mzCloud database. The targets corresponding to GSG compounds were collected from public databases, along with disease genes for NAFLD. The core targets and molecular mechanisms of GSG for NAFLD treatment were predicted by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses. Molecular docking of the core target-component interactions was simulated using AutoDock Vina software. The effect of GSG on NASH rats was evaluated by pathological staining and analysis of various index results. Finally, the candidate targets were further validated by ELISA and western blot (WB) analyses. Results: Combining UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap-MS/MS data analysis and public database data, a total of 346 cross-targets were obtained, corresponding to 81 compounds. The subnetwork with an MCODE score of 53.623 is a potential core target group for this study. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the targets of GSG in NAFLD were mostly related to oxidative stress, the NF-κB signaling pathway, and the apoptosis signaling pathway. By integrating the results of network pharmacology analysis, the core objectives of this study mainly include AKT1, CASP9, TNF, and CASP8. The core ingredients are related to resveratrol and fisetin. The molecular docking results indicated key binding activity between AKT1-fisetin, AKT1-Resveratrol, and CASP8-fisetin. Moreover, GSG could improve the inflammatory status and restore the abnormal lipid accumulation of NAFLD/NASH liver, and these levels are further verified by pathological staining and detection of related indicators. Mechanistically, GSG could regulate protein expression levels in the liver for P65, p-P65, IKB, p-IKB, IKK, caspase-3, -8, -9, and cytochrome C, etc. It reflects the inhibitory effect of GSG on the NF-κB/IκB signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our results suggested that GSG demonstrated therapeutic effects on NAFLD/NASH rats, and these may be mainly reflected in the inhibitory effects on the NF-κB/IκB signaling pathway and its downstream inflammation and apoptosis signals.

Natural Compounds with Aldose Reductase (AR) Inhibition: A Class of Medicative Agents for Fatty Liver Disease

Fatty liver disease (FLD), which includes both non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD), is a worldwide health concern. The etiology of ALD is long-term alcohol consumption, while NAFLD is defined as an abnormal amount of lipid present in liver cells, which is not caused by alcohol intake and has recently been identified as a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome (such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and obesity). Inflammation, oxidative stress, and lipid metabolic dysregulation are all known to play a role in FLD progression. Alternative and natural therapies are desperately needed to treat this disease since existing pharmaceuticals are mostly ineffective. The aldose reductase (AR)/polyol pathway has recently been shown to play a role in developing FLD by contributing to inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fat accumulation. Herein, we review the effects of plantderived compounds capable of inhibiting AR in FLD models. Natural AR inhibitors have been found to improve FLD in part by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and steatosis via the regulation of several critical pathways, including the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) pathway, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, etc. This review revealed that natural compounds with AR inhibitory effects are a promising class of therapeutic agents for FLD.

Huangjia Ruangan Granule Inhibits Inflammation in a Rat Model with Liver Fibrosis by Regulating TNF/MAPK and NF-κB Signaling Pathways

The Huangjia Ruangan granule (HJRG) is a clinically effective Kampo formula, which has a significant effect on liver fibrosis and early liver cirrhosis. However, the mechanism underlying HJRG in treating liver fibrosis remains unclear. In this study, carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) was used to induce liver fibrosis in rats to clarify the effect of HJRG on liver fibrosis and its mechanism. Using network pharmacology, the potential mechanism of HJRG was initially explored, and a variety of analyses were performed to verify this mechanism. In the liver fibrosis model, treatment with HJRG can maintain the liver morphology, lower the levels of AST and ALT in the serum, and ameliorate pathological damage. Histopathological examinations revealed that the liver structure was significantly improved and fibrotic changes were alleviated. It can effectively inhibit collagen deposition and the expression of α-SMA, reduce the levels of the rat serum (HA, LN, PC III, and Col IV), and inhibit the expression of desmin, vimentin, and HYP content in the liver. Analyzing the results of network pharmacology, the oxidative stress, inflammation, and the related pathways (primarily the TNF signaling pathway) were identified as the potential mechanism of HJRG against liver fibrosis. Experiments confirmed that HJRG can significantly increase the content of superoxide dismutase and glutathione and reduce the levels of malondialdehyde and myeloperoxidase in the rat liver; in addition, HJRG significantly inhibited the content of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and reduced the expression of inflammatory regulators (Cox2 and iNOS). Meanwhile, treatment with HJRG inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB P65, IκBα, ERK, JNK, and MAPK P38. Moreover, HJRG treatment reversed the increased expression of TNFR1. The Huangjia Ruangan granule can effectively inhibit liver fibrosis through antioxidation, suppressing liver inflammation by regulating the TNF/MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby preventing the effect of liver fibrosis.

Recent Advances in Biological Activity, New Formulations and Prodrugs of Ferulic Acid

Trans-ferulic acid (FA) is a derivative of 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, which is found in many food products, fruits and beverages. It has scientifically proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. However, its low ability to permeate through biological barriers (e.g., the blood-brain barrier, BBB), its low bioavailability and its fast elimination from the gastrointestinal tract after oral administration limit its clinical use, e.g., for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, new nanotechnological approaches are developed in order to regulate intracellular transport of ferulic acid. The objective of this review is to summarize the last decade's research on biological properties of ferulic acid and innovative ways of its delivery, supporting pharmacological therapy.

Ferulic acid-loaded nanocapsules: Evaluation of mucosal interaction, safety and antioxidant activity in human mononucleated cells

Ferulic acid (FA) is a phenolic compound that has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties besides presenting cytoprotective activity. It has limited oral bioavailability what is a challenge to its therapeutic application. In this way, this investigation aimed to develop FA-loaded nanocapsule suspensions (NC-FA) prepared with ethylcellulose and evaluate their in vitro release profile, mucoadhesion and irritation potential; scavenging capacity, cytotoxicity, cytoprotection and genoprotection against hydrogen peroxide-induced damage in hMNC (human Mononucleated Cells) culture. The nanocapsules presented physicochemical characteristics compatible with colloidal systems (NC-FA: 112 ± 3 nm; NC-B (without FA): 107 ± 3 nm; PdI < 0.2; Span<2.0 and negative zeta potential). In addition, the nanoparticulate system promoted the FA controlled release, increasing the half-life twice through the in vitro dialysis method. NC-FA and NC-B were able to interact with mucin, which is an indicative of mucoadhesive properties and the association of FA with nanocapsules showed decreased irritation by HET-CAM method. Besides, the NC-FA did not present cytotoxicity in hMNC and improved the ATBS radical scavenging capacity. Besides, it prevented, treated and reversed oxidative conditions in a H₂O₂-induced model in hMNC. Thus, this nanocarrier formulation is promising to perform more preclinical investigations focusing on diseases involving oxidative mechanisms.