Govaniadine Ameliorates Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Kupffer Cell Activation in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Hepatoprotective Effect of Annulohypoxylon stygium Melanin on Acute Alcoholic Liver Injury in Mice

Annulohypoxylon stygium melanin (AsM) has various functional properties such as antioxidant and anti-radiation, but its biological activity in vivo has not been fully investigated. In this study, we researched the effects of AsM on the protection against acute liver injury in mice and its mechanism. The results showed that AsM had no significant effect on body weight in mice but reduced the liver index. It was able to significantly decrease the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the contents of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in mice. Simultaneously, it raised the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), which obviously exceeded those of the EtOH group. AsM could significantly lower the levels of inflammatory factors, with inhibition rates of 68.30%, 29.0%, and 19.50% for IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, respectively. H&E and Oil red O staining also showed that AsM ameliorated liver damage and lipid accumulation in mice. The protective mechanism of AsM may be associated to the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant signaling pathway, which could activate the downstream antioxidant enzymes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). These findings confirmed that AsM had an alleviating effect on alcoholic liver injury and provided new thoughts for the development of natural product.

Antioxidant and Hepatoprotective Activities of Acacia jacquemontii Stem Extract against High-fat and CCl4-induced Liver Injury in Rat's Model

BACKGROUND

Chronic liver injury leads to liver inflammation and fibrosis, activating myofibroblasts in the liver and secreting extracellular matrix proteins that make the fibrous scar.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of our study was to characterize the polyphenolic content present in Acacia jacquemontii stem and evaluate its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity.

METHODS

The phenolic contents in Acacia jacquemontii polyphenolic extract (AJPPE) were characterized using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of AJPPE were determined through biochemical parameters (ALT, AST, and ALP), lipid profile (TC, TG, HDL, and LDL), antioxidant biomarkers (SOD, LPO, GSH, and CAT), anti-fibrotic activity (collagen deposition), and histopathological analysis.

RESULTS

HPLC analysis of AJPPE showed the presence of polyphenols, including chlorogenic acid, P-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, and kaempferol, in a remarkable therapeutic range. Results of the in vivo analysis showed a significant decrease in the level of lipid profile, including LDL (low-density lipoprotein), TC (total cholesterol), triglycerides, liver function markers (AST, ALT, and ALP), collagen deposition and significantly increased the level of anti-oxidative biomarkers (CAT, SOD, LPO, and GSH) by using AJPPE.

CONCLUSION

The above-mentioned results have shown that AJPPE possesses significant antioxidative and hepatoprotective effects. Furthermore, histopathological results also supported the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of AJPPE.

Protopine triggers apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway and regulation of ROS/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway in liver carcinoma

Background

Protopine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that possesses various biological activities including the anti-tumour activity. However, the effects of protopine on liver carcinoma cells are still elusive. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of protopine on liver carcinoma cells both in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

MTT assay was performed to measure the cell viability. Wound healing and transwell assays were conducted to assess the motility of cells. Cellular apoptosis and ROS levels were measured by the flow cytometry. Western blotting assay was used to measure the change of proteins. The cytotoxicity of protopine was also evaluated in xenograft mice.

Results

Protopine inhibited viabilities and triggered apoptosis via the intrinsic pathway in a caspase-dependent manner in liver carcinoma cells. Furthermore, protopine also induced accumulation of intracellular ROS which further led to the inhibition of PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. Finally, in vivo study showed that protopine also repressed tumour growth in xenograft mice without noticeable toxicity.

Conclusions

Protopine might be used as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of liver carcinoma.