Toxicity, biodegradation, and nutritional intervention mechanism of zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEA), a global mycotoxin commonly found in a variety of grain products and animal feed, causes damage to the gastrointestinal tract, immune organs, liver and reproductive system. Many treatments, including physical, chemical and biological methods, have been reported for the degradation of ZEA. Each degradation method has different degradation efficacies and distinct mechanisms. In this article, the global pollution status, hazard and toxicity of ZEA are summarized. We also review the biological detoxification methods and nutritional regulation strategies for alleviating the toxicity of ZEA. Moreover, we discuss the molecular detoxification mechanism of ZEA to help explore more efficient detoxification methods to better reduce the global pollution and hazard of ZEA.

Protective effect of hot-water and ethanol-aqueous extracts from Anneslea fragrans against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice

Anneslea fragrans Wall. (AF) is an important medicinal and edible plant in China. The principal objectives of this study are to explore the hepatoprotective effect of ethanol-aqueous (AFE) and hot-water (AFW) extracts in vitro and in vivo. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis showed that AFW and AFE are rich in dihydrochalcones. Both AFW and AFE significantly up-regulated the expressions of SOD, CAT and GSH, reduced the MDA content in acetaminophen (APAP)-induced HepG2 cells, and suppressed the expressions of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-induced RAW246.7 cells. In APAP-induced mice, AFW and AFE administration significantly decreased the plasma levels of AST and ALT, and improved liver tissue damage, the collagen deposition and fibrosis formation. Moreover, AFW and AFE decreased the MDA and ROS accumulations via activating Nrf2 pathway to increase the hepatic GSH contents and activities of SOD, CAT, HO-1, and NQO-1, reduced the levels of NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by suppressing the JNK/p38/ERK/NF-κB pathways, and alleviated apoptosis via regulating Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3/9 protein expressions. This study provides a new sight that AFW and AFE may have a potential natural resource for the treatment of liver injury.

Phytochemicals from Anneslea fragrans Wall. and Their Hepatoprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Anneslea fragrans Wall., popularly known as "Pangpo tea", is an edible, medicinal, and ornamental plant of the Family Theaceae. The leaves of A. fragrans were historically applied for the treatment of liver and intestinal inflammatory diseases in China. This study aimed to explore the hepatoprotective agents from A. fragrans leaves through hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory assessment. The phytochemical investigation of the leaves of A. fragrans resulted in the isolation and identification of a total of 18 chemical compounds, including triterpenoids, aliphatic alcohol, dihydrochalcones, chalcones, flavanols, phenolic glycoside, and lignans. Compounds 1-2, 4-6, 11-12, and 16-18 were identified from A. fragrans for the first time. Compounds 7 and 14 could significantly alleviate hepatocellular damage by decreasing the contents of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and inhibit the hepatocellular apoptosis in the HepG2 cells induced by N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP). In addition, compounds 7 and 14 inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and increased the catalase (CAT) superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione (GSH) levels for suppressing APAP-induced oxidative stress. Additionally, compounds 7, 13, and 14 also had significant anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) productions on LPS-induced RAW246.7 cells.

Pien Tze Huang attenuated acetaminophen-induced liver injury by autophagy mediated-NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pien Tze Huang is a classic traditional Chinese medicinal product, used for inflammatory diseases as stated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In particular, it is effective in treating liver diseases and pro-inflammatory conditions. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used analgesic drug, but its over-dose is associated with acute liver failure where the clinical approved antidote treatment is limited. Inflammation has been considered as one of the therapeutic targets against APAP-induced liver injury.

AIM OF THE STUDY

We aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of Pien Tze Huang tablet (PTH) on protecting liver against APAP-induced liver injury through its strong anti-inflammatory pharmacological action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wild-type C57BL/6 mice were given PTH (75, 150 and 300 mg/kg) by oral gavage 3 days before the APAP injection (400 mg/kg). The protective effect of PTH was assessed by aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels and pathological staining. The mechanisms underlying PTH's hepatoprotective effects were investigated in nucleotide-binding domain (NOD)-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) knock-out (NLRP3^-/-), over expression NLRP3 (oe-NLRP3) mice, and wild-type mice with the injection of autophagy inhibitor (3-methyladenine, 3-MA).

RESULTS

APAP-exposed mice resulted in evident liver injury which was evidenced by hepatic necrosis and elevated levels of AST and ALT in the wild-type C57BL/6 mice. PTH dose-dependently reduced ALT, AST and upregulated autophagy activity. In addition, PTH significantly reduced elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and NLRP3 inflammasome. The liver protective effect of PTH (300 mg/kg) was still obvious in the oe-NLRP3 mice, however, it became insignificant in the NLRP3^-/- mice. When PTH (300 mg/kg) was co-treated with 3-MA to the wild-type C57BL/6 mice, the NLRP3 inhibition were reversed when autophagy was blocked.

CONCLUSION

PTH exerted a beneficial effect in protecting liver against APAP-induced liver injury. The underlying molecular mechanism was associated with the NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition which was likely driven by the upregulated autophagy activity. Our study underpins the traditional use of PTH in protecting liver through its anti-inflammatory action.

Protective effects of polydatin on ileum injury in mice exposed to aflatoxin B1

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an extremely hazardous food/feed pollutant, posing a serious threat to health of human and animals. Particularly, exposure to AFB1 provokes enterocytes oxidative stress and inflammation, which lead to intestinal damage. Polydatin (PD), a stilbenoid glucoside, is known to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and is being investigated for use in various disorders. The present study was intended at investigating the protective efficacy of polydatin against AFB1-induced ileum damage in mice. Kunming male mice received oral gavage of AFB1 (300 μg/kg) and PD (100 mg/kg) for 18 days. The results showed that mice exposed to AFB1 exhibited the impaired morphology, the suppressed disaccharidase activities, the down-regulated mRNA expressions of tight junction protein genes, oxidative stress, inflammation and the up-regulated mRNA expressions of genes related to mitophagy in the ileum, whereas PD treatment reversed the AFB1-induced disruption of ileal structure, digestion, barrier function, redox and immune status. The findings of the present study suggested that polydatin may have a potential benefit in preventing AFB1-induced ileum damage.

Polydatin ameliorates inflammation and oxidative stress associated with MSU-induced gouty arthritis in mice by regulating PPAR-γ and ferritin activation

AIMS

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc is one of the commonly used herbs for the treatment of gouty arthritis, and polydatin is one of its main effective components. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of polydatin for the treatment of gout.

MAIN METHODS

The ankle joint of C57BL/6 mice were injected with MSU suspensions to simulate human gouty arthritis, and oral treatment with polydatin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) was performed at 1 h after MSU crystal injection. The effect of polydatin on model mice was evaluated by measuring ankle swelling, gait, histopathological analysis, proinflammatory cytokine expression, as well as the contents of NO, MDA and GSH. The targets of polydatin were explored by Real-Time PCR and IHC.

KEY FINDINGS

Treatment with polydatin inhibited ankle swelling, improved abnormal gait, and reduced ankle lesions dose-dependently. Moreover, polydatin decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and promoted expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine. In addition, polydatin inhibited MSU-induced oxidative stress by decreasing oxidative product (NO, MDA) generation and promote the antioxidant (GSH). Further, we found that polydatin reduced inflammation by decreasing the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome component via activating PPAR-γ. Moreover, polydatin can protect against iron overload and attenuate oxidative stress by promoting the activation of ferritin.

SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings indicates that polydatin ameliorates MSU-induced inflammation and oxidative stress by regulating PPAR-γ and ferritin activation in gouty arthritis model mice, and this research result suggests that polydatin has therapeutic potential for the treatment of gout in humans through multiple targets.

Polydatin inhibits mitochondrial damage and mitochondrial ROS by promoting PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy in allergic rhinitis

Polydatin (PD), a natural product derived from Polygonum cuspidatum, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and has significant benefits in treating allergic diseases. However, its role and mechanism in allergic rhinitis (AR) have not been fully elucidated. Herein, we investigated the effect and mechanism of PD in AR. AR model was established in mice with OVA. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNEpCs) were stimulated with IL-13. HNEpCs were also treated with an inhibitor of mitochondrial division or transfected with siRNA. The levels of IgE and cellular inflammatory factors were examined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry. The expressions of PINK1, Parkin, P62, LC3B, NLRP3 inflammasome proteins, and apoptosis proteins in nasal tissues and HNEpCs were measured by Western blot. We found that PD suppressed OVA-induced epithelial thickening and eosinophil accumulation in the nasal mucosa, reduced IL-4 production in NALF, and regulated Th1/Th2 balance. In addition, mitophagy was induced in AR mice after OVA challenge and in HNEpCs after IL-13 stimulation. Meanwhile, PD enhanced PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy but decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and apoptosis. However, PD-induced mitophagy was abrogated after PINK1 knockdown or Mdivi-1 treatment, indicating a key role of the PINK1-Parkin in PD-induced mitophagy. Moreover, mitochondrial damage, mtROS production, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and HNEpCs apoptosis under IL-13 exposure were more severe after PINK1 knockdown or Mdivi-1 treatment. Conclusively, PD may exert protective effects on AR by promoting PINK1-Parkin-mediated mitophagy, which further suppresses apoptosis and tissue damage in AR through decreasing mtROS production and NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Aflatoxin-B1-Exposure-Induced Hepatic Injury Could Be Alleviated by Polydatin through Reducing Oxidative Stress, Inhibiting Inflammation and Improving Mitophagy

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a toxic food/feed pollutant, exerting extensive deleterious impacts on the liver. Oxidative stress and inflammation are considered to be vital contributors to AFB1 hepatotoxicity. Polydatin (PD), a naturally occurring polyphenol, has been demonstrated to protect and/or treat liver disorders caused by various factors through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the role of PD in AFB1-induced liver injury is still elusive. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the protective effect of PD on hepatic injury in mice subjected to AFB1. Male mice were randomly divided into three groups: control, AFB1 and AFB1-PD groups. The results showed that PD protected against AFB1-induced hepatic injury demonstrated by the reduced serum transaminase activity, the restored hepatic histology and ultrastructure, which could be attributed to the enhanced glutathione level, the reduced interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha concentrations, the increased interleukin 10 expression at transcriptional level and the up-regulated mRNA expression related to mitophagy. In conclusion, PD could alleviate AFB1-induced hepatic injury by reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting inflammation and improving mitophagy.

Polydatin: Pharmacological Mechanisms, Therapeutic Targets, Biological Activities, and Health Benefits

Polydatin is a natural potent stilbenoid polyphenol and a resveratrol derivative with improved bioavailability. Polydatin possesses potential biological activities predominantly through the modulation of pivotal signaling pathways involved in inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Various imperative biological activities have been suggested for polydatin towards promising therapeutic effects, including anticancer, cardioprotective, anti-diabetic, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, anti-microbial, as well as health-promoting roles on the renal system, the respiratory system, rheumatoid diseases, the skeletal system, and women's health. In the present study, the therapeutic targets, biological activities, pharmacological mechanisms, and health benefits of polydatin are reviewed to provide new insights to researchers. The need to develop further clinical trials and novel delivery systems of polydatin is also considered to reveal new insights to researchers.

E Se tea alleviates acetaminophen-induced liver injury by activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway

E Se tea is a traditional herbal tea used in the prevention of liver diseases. However, the hepatoprotective effect of E Se tea has not been investigated. This study aimed to determine the protective effect of E Se tea on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury and its potential mechanism. Hot water extracts and aqueous-ethanol extracts of E Se tea were obtained, which were analyzed to determine the chemical constituents of the tea. Phlorizin and phloretin were found to be the dominant chemical compounds. Histopathological analysis showed that E Se tea extract inhibited APAP-induced inflammatory infiltration, necrosis, and cellular vacuolization of hepatocytes in the liver tissue. The E Se tea extract could significantly ameliorate liver injury, inhibit an inflammatory response, and reduce oxidative stress. Western blot analysis revealed that E Se tea extract upregulated the expressions of nuclear Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO1 proteins and downregulated the expressions of cytoplasmic Nrf2 and Keap1 proteins in the hepatocyte. qPCR results showed that E Se tea extract also increased the expression of antioxidant genes (SOD2, Gpx1, GCLC and GCLM). These findings exhibited that E Se tea, enriched in dihydrochalcones, can be used to effectively prevent and manage liver dysfunction.

Protective effects of E Se tea extracts against alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by high fat/alcohol diet: In vivo biological evaluation and molecular docking study

BACKGROUND

With the development of economy and increased workload, chronic a high-fat/alcohol diet intake may lead to alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD), which is considered as a crucial health problem worldwide. E Se tea is produced of the leaves and leaf buds of Malus toringoides (Rehd.) Hughes in Tibet and has human health benefits with anti-hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia effects.

PURPOSE

The objective of this work was to investigate the protective effect of aqueous-ethanol and hot-water extracts of E Se tea against chronic high-fat/alcohol diet induced AFLD rats.

METHODS

Firstly, to determine the chemical profiling of E Se tea extracts, UHPLC-ESI-HRMS analysis was conducted. Secondly, Sprague-Dawley male rats were used to establish the AFLD animal model by feeding with high-fat/alcohol diet. The animals were treated with E Se tea extracts for 12 weeks. Serum parameters were determined, histologic sections were prepared, and activities of enzymes related to inflammatory response and lipid metabolism imbalance were analyzed. The underlying mechanisms of E Se tea extracts alleviating AFLD were analyzed by immunofluorescence staining and Western blotting analysis. Lastly, key targets of 11-MT against AFLD were verified through molecular docking.

RESULTS

In this study, seven main compounds were confirmed or tentatively identified in E Se tea extracts by UHPLC-ESI-HRMS. The results revealed that both the extracts could reverse histopathological steatotic alternation of the liver and reduced the activity of liver damage markers (ALT, AST). E Se tea extracts mitigated oxidative stress by inhibiting CYP2E1 protein and lipid peroxidation parameters (MDA), but enhancing the endogenous antioxidants (CAT, GSH, SOD). Moreover, E Se tea extracts ameliorated inflammation by restraining the activation of NF-κB, consequently releasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, COX-2 and iNOS). Subsequently, E Se tea extracts reduced hepatocyte apoptosis by increasing capase-9, caspase-3 and Bax protein expression but decreasing Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, E Se tea extracts improved metabolism imbalance by stimulating AMPK/SREBP1/FAS and PPAR-α/CPT1 signaling pathway by regulating lipid metabolism parameters (TC, TG, HDL-C, LHD-C). Furthermore, molecular docking results indicated that 7 chemical constituents of E Se tea extracts had strong docking affinity with 4 key target proteins (AMPK, PPAR-α, NF-кB and Caspase-9).

CONCLUSION

E Se tea ameliorated AFLD through ameliorating inflammatory response, apoptosis, and lipid metabolism imbalance.

Protective Effects of Polydatin on Reproductive Injury Induced by Ionizing Radiation

The reproductive system is vulnerable to ionizing radiation, which is a hot research topic at present. We tested the effect of polydatin on spermatocytes(GC-1 cells) after X-ray irradiation. The reproductive damage model of C.elegans was established by 60Coγ-ray, and the protective effect of polydatin on reproductive damage caused by ionizing radiation was evaluated. We quantified the ROS levels of GC-1 cells and C.elegans after irradiation with polydatin and evaluated the anti-apoptosis effect of polydatin at proper concentration. Differential genes of C.elegans reproductive damage were screened out from transcriptome sequencing results and comparable GEO datasets. It was proved that 100μM polydatin significantly reduced the apoptosis of GC-1 cells induced by 2 Gy X-ray. In addition, the longevity, reproductive capacity, germ cell apoptosis and spawning and hatching capacity of polydatin were tested. The results showed that 100 μM polydatin content significantly increased the influence of 50 Gy 60Coγ-ray on reproductive capacity of C.elegans. Quantitative analysis of mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-related genes and reproductive-related genes by qRT-PCR and Western blotcon firmed that polydatin with appropriate dosage had good protective effects on reproductive damage caused by radiation, which laid a foundation for the application research of polydatin in radiation protection.

Polydatin as a therapeutic alternative for central nervous system disorders: A systematic review of animal studies

Polydatin, or piceid, is a natural stilbene found in grapes, peanuts, and wines. Polydatin presents pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective properties, exerting preventive and/or therapeutic effects in central nervous system (CNS) disorders. In the present study, we summarize and discuss the neuroprotective effects of polydatin in CNS disorders and related pathological conditions in preclinical animal studies. A systematic review was performed by searching online databases, returning a total of 110 records, where 27 articles were selected and discussed here. The included studies showed neuroprotective effects of polydatin in experimental models of neurological disorders, including cerebrovascular disorders, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injuries, diabetic neuropathy, glioblastoma, and neurotoxicity induced by chemical agents. Most studies were focused on stroke (22.2%) and conducted in male rodents. The intervention protocol with polydatin was mainly acute (66.7%), with postdamage induction treatment being the most commonly used regimen (55.2%). Overall, polydatin ameliorated behavioral dysfunctions and/or promoted neurological function by virtue of its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. In summary, this review offers important scientific evidence for the neuroprotective effects and distinct pharmacological mechanisms of polydatin that not only enhances the present understanding but is also useful for the development of future preclinical and clinical investigations.

6'-O-Caffeoylarbutin from Que Zui tea ameliorates acetaminophen-induced liver injury via enhancing antioxidant ability and regulating the PI3K signaling pathway

Que Zui tea (QT), a traditional herbal tea in China, has a significant hepatoprotective effect. 6'-O-Caffeoylarbutin (CA) is the most abundant chemical compound in the QT. However, the hepatoprotective effect of CA has not been investigated. This study is aimed to evaluate the protective effect of CA on acetaminophen (APAP) induced hepatotoxicity in vivo and in vitro and its possible underlying mechanism. In APAP-induced HepG-2 cells, CA inhibited intracellular ROS accumulation and cell apoptosis, and improved the expression of antioxidants including SOD, CAT and GSH. In APAP-administrated mice, CA pretreatment remarkably ameliorated the histopathological damage and inflammatory response, and antioxidant enzyme activity in the serum and liver tissues. Moreover, the immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence assay results revealed that the CA markedly reduced ROS production and apoptosis, and activated antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 in the liver. Meanwhile, molecular docking results showed that the strong binding force of CA and PI3K was due to the higher number of hydrogen- and π-bonds with active site residues. Notably, CA pretreatment significantly regulated the expression of PI3K, Akt, Nrf2, NQO1, HO-1, Bcl-2, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9 proteins in APAP-treated liver tissues. These data demonstrated that CA had a protective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity via regulating the PI3K/Akt and Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Pathologic mechanism of hidden blood loss after total knee arthroplasty: oxidative stress induced by free fatty acids

BACKGROUND

Hidden blood loss (HBL) often occurs after joint replacement; however, the mechanism of HBL is not clear. We conducted a prospective study to analyze the correlation between high-level free fatty acids (FFA) and erythrocyte injury, and explore the pathologic mechanism of hidden blood loss (HBL) after total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

METHODS

Perioperative blood indexes were tested in 120 patients who underwent unilateral total knee replacement for end-stage knee osteoarthritis. The changes in FFA, reactive oxygen species (ROS), hemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cells (RBC) in the blood samples were detected. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels were measured. Morphologic changes of blood cells were analyzed under a microscope.

RESULTS

HBL occurred in all patients after TKA. The Hb and RBC decreased significantly 24 h after surgery (P <0.05), while FFA and ROS concentration were substantially elevated, and heteromorphic red blood cells appeared under the microscope. The hemoglobin content decreased to its lowest level at 48 h after the operation (P<0.01). With the increase of FFA and ROS levels, HBL appeared more obvious (P<0.01). GSH-PX activity, T-SOD activity, and H₂O₂ levels significantly decreased compared to preoperative tested samples (P<0.01). Microscopically, atypical erythrocytes increased significantly with cellular rupture and lysis identified.

CONCLUSIONS

High levels of FFA in blood can induce oxidative stress and damage red blood cells, leading to the occurrence of HBL after surgery.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (the trial number: ChiCTR17010681, URL: http://www.chictr.org.cn).

Polydatin: A Critical Promising Natural Agent for Liver Protection via Antioxidative Stress

Polydatin, one of the natural active small molecules, was commonly applied in protecting and treating liver disorders in preclinical studies. Oxidative stress plays vital roles in liver injury caused by various factors, such as alcohol, viral infections, dietary components, drugs, and other chemical reagents. It is reported that oxidative stress might be one of the main reasons in the progressive development of alcohol liver diseases (ALDs), nonalcoholic liver diseases (NAFLDs), liver injury, fibrosis, hepatic failure (HF), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this paper, we comprehensively summarized the pharmacological effects and potential molecular mechanisms of polydatin for protecting and treating liver disorders via regulation of oxidative stress. According to the previous studies, polydatin is a versatile natural compound and exerts significantly protective and curative effects on oxidative stress-associated liver diseases via various molecular mechanisms, including amelioration of liver function and insulin resistance, inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines, lipid accumulation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy, regulation of PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), as well as increase of antioxidant enzymes (such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)). In addition, polydatin acts as a free radical scavenger against reactive oxygen species (ROS) by its phenolic and ethylenic bond structure. However, further clinical investigations are still needed to explore the comprehensive molecular mechanisms and confirm the clinical treatment effect of polydatin in liver diseases related to regulation of oxidative stress.

Characterization of the metabolites of trans-resveratrol-3-O-glucoside in monkeys and dogs

In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem multi-stage mass spectrometry (LC/MSⁿ) method was established to characterize the metabolites of TRG in monkeys and dogs. A total of seven metabolites of TRG besides the prototype were found, which were identified as TR (M1), TRN (M2), trans-resveratrol-4'-O-glucuronide (M2'), trans-resveratrol-3-O-glucoside-4'-O-glucuronide (M3), trans-resveratrol-3-O-glucoside-5-O-glucuronide (M3'), trans-resveratrol-3-sulfate (M4) and trans-resveratrol-4'-sulfate (M4'). Additionally, the metabolic pathways of TRG in monkeys and dogs were proposed. There were also species differences of metabolism of TRG between monkeys and dogs.

Old dog, new tricks: Polydatin as a multitarget agent for current diseases

Polydatin (PD) is a natural single-crystal product that is primarily extracted from the traditional plant Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. et Zucc. Early research showed that PD exhibited a variety of biological activities. PD has attracted increasing research interest since 2014, but no review comprehensively summarized the new findings. A great gap between its biological activities and drug development remains. It is necessary to summarize new findings on the pharmacological effects of PD on current diseases. We propose that PD will most likely be used in cardiac and cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion-related diseases and atherosclerosis in the future. The present work classified these new findings according to diseases and summarized the main effects of PD via specific mechanisms of action. In summary, we found that PD played a therapeutic role in a variety of diseases, primarily via five mechanisms: antioxidative effects, antiinflammatory effects, regulation of autophagy and apoptosis, maintenance of mitochondrial function, and lipid regulation.

Development of a novel UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneously quantification of polydatin and resveratrol in plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study in rats

The purpose of this study is to develop a sensitive LC-MS-MS method to simultaneously quantify polydatin and its metabolite, resveratrol, for its application in a pharmacokinetic (PK) study and to determine polydatin hydrolysis by microflora. A Shimadzu UHPLC system coupled to an AB Sciex QTrap 4000 mass spectrometer was used for the analysis. Separation was achieved using an Acquity BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm) with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phases. Analysis was performed under negative ionization mode using the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) approach. The method was linear in the range of 9.77-1250 nM for both resveratrol and polydatin with correlation coefficient values >0.99. Themethodhas been shown to be reproducible, with intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision ±10.4% of nominal values, for both analytes. The average extraction recovery rates were 81.78-98.3% for polydatin and 86.4-103.2% for resveratrol, respectively. Matrix effect was in the acceptable range (<15%). The analytes in plasma were found to be stable under bench-top, freeze-thaw, and storage (-4 °C) conditions. The metabolic studies showed that polydatin can be rapidly hydrolyzed by rat fecal S9 fractions and PK studies showed that both polydatin and resveratrol were exposed in the plasma and variable tissues. This novel UPLC-MS-MS method can quantify the levels of both polydatin and its major metabolite resveratrol in biological samples.

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

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

Protective effect of Que Zui tea hot-water and aqueous ethanol extract against acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice via inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

The tender leaves and buds of Vaccinium dunalianum Wight have been traditionally processed as folk tea, known as Que Zui tea (QT), with a wide range of benefits to humans. In this study, Que Zui tea hot-water extract (QTW) and aqueous-ethanol extract (QTE) were tested for their effectiveness to alleviate acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver damage. QTW and QTE significantly inhibited the alanine aminotransaminase, aspartate aminotransaminase, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β levels in the serum. Both extracts also ameliorated pathological damage and inhibited oxidative stress in the liver of APAP-induced mice. In addition, QTW and QTE activated the nuclear erythroid related factor 2 signal pathway, and inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. QTW and QTE also suppressed hepatocyte apoptosis by improvement of Bcl-2/Bax and inhibition of caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression. The results demonstrated that QTW and QTE could effectively protect APAP hepatotoxicity, which might be attributed to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptosis activities.

Hydroxyethyl cellulose hydrogel for skin delivery of khellin loaded in ascosomes: Characterization, in vitro/in vivo performance and acute toxicity

Aim of this work was to prepare and characterize a hydroxyethyl cellulose hydrogel loaded with ascosomes, nanovesicles based on phosphatidylcholine plus ascorbyl octanoate (ASC8) or ascorbyl decanoate (ASC1), and khellin (2 mg/mL), for topical use. ASC10 vesicles were selected for the hydrogel formulation because of the best biopharmaceutical characteristics, namely size of 115 nm, PDI of 0.26, ζ-potential of -40.1 meV, EE% of 90.2%. After 24 h the in vitro release of khellin was more than 80%, while the ex-vivo skin permeation of khellin after application of the vesicles was 42% of the dose. The hydrogel formulations had a pH value of 5, viscosity properties were different according to the different temperatures and in addition, they presented characteristics of non-Newtonian fluids with a pseudoplastic shear thinning behaviour according to the Herschel-Bulkley equation. These hydrogels combine the advantages of a suitable viscosity for dermal use (hydrogel matrix) and an increased transdermal absorption (ascosome components). The best permeability of the ASC10 ascosomes, led to select the formulation for skin irritation and corrosion tests in rats. Liver and dermal histological and pathological analyses demonstrated that hydroxyethyl cellulose hydrogels based on khellin loaded in the ASC10 ascosomes have no toxic effects.

Polydatin Protects Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells Against Zearalenone-Induced Apoptosis By Inhibiting Oxidative Responses and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin of the Fusarium genus that can cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and Apoptosis in bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). Polydatin (PD), a glycoside purified from Polygonum cuspidatum, has antioxidant properties. This study aimed to explore whether PD can alleviate ZEA-induced damage on bovine mammary epithelial cells (MAC-T). We found that incasing the concentration of ZEA (0, 7.5, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 240 μM) gradually decreased the cell viability. PD treatment alone at 5, 10, and 20 μM did not affect cell viability. Follow-up studies then applied 30 μM of ZEA and 5 μM of PD to treat cells; the results showed that the ZEA + PD treatment group effectively reduced cell oxidative damage compared with the ZEA treatment group. The qPCR analysis showed that ZEA treatment significantly up-regulated the expression of ER stress-related genes, relative to the control. However, adding PD significantly down-regulated the expression of ER stress-related genes. The cell apoptosis detection results showed that, compared with the ZEA treatment group, the ZEA + PD treatment group down-regulated the Bax gene and up-regulated the Bcl-2 gene expressions, which reduced the cell apoptosis rate and Caspase-3 activity. Taken together, these results indicate that PD reduces ZEA-induced apoptosis by inhibiting oxidative damage and ER stress.

Polydatin attenuates Mycoplasma gallisepticum (HS strain)-induced inflammation injury via inhibiting the TLR6/ MyD88/NF-κB pathway

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is the main cause of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) characterized by severe respiratory inflammation in chickens. Polydatin (PD) is a resveratrol glycoside isolated from Polygonum cuspidatum, which has prominent anti-inflammatory effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of PD against MG-induced inflammation in chicken and its underlying mechanism. Histopathological analysis showed that PD treatment (15, 30, and 45 mg/kg) apparently alleviated MG-induced pathological changes of chicken embryonic lung. In chicken embryo fibroblast (DF-1) cells, PD treatment (15, 30, and 60 μg/mL) could effectively suppress MG propagation, promote MG-infected cell proliferation and cell cycle progress, and inhibit MG-induced cell apoptosis. ELISA and qPCR assays showed that PD treatment significantly suppressed the expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induced by MG both in vivo and in vitro. Besides, molecular studies indicated that the MG-induced levels of toll-like receptor-6 TLR6, myeloid differentiation-88 (MyD88) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were significantly decreased by PD treatment. Moreover, immunofluorescence analysis showed that PD treatment restrained the MG-induced NF-κB-p65 nuclear translocation. Taken together, these results indicate the protective effects of PD against MG-induced inflammation injury in chicken were mainly by inhibiting the TLR6/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.

Metabolomics analysis reveals the protective effect of quercetin-3-O-galactoside (Hyperoside) on liver injury in mice induced by acetaminophen

We investigated the protective effect of Hyperoside (HPS) on liver injury induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in C57 mice. HPS was administered orally for 7 days and APAP was administered orally on the 7th day. Serum and liver samples were then collected for biochemical analyses, histopathology assessments, and metabolomics studies. Metabolites were assessed using a UHPLC-MS system. Principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) were used to process the data. Pathway analyses were performed using Metaboanalyst 4.0. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to determine the protein and mRNA levels, respectively. HPS interacted with active sites in CYP2E1 and caused protein degradation. In conclusion, our results suggested that HPS prevented the oxidative stress-induced liver injury caused by APAP. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Hyperoside was shown to have potential protective and therapeutic effects against liver diseases. Male C57 mice were used to perform pharmacodynamic, pharmacology, and metabolomics evaluations. At a dose of 60 mg/kg, HPS prevented oxidative stress-induced liver injury caused by APAP by regulating the glutathione-related metabolites and enzymes through the inhibition of CYP2E1.

Polydatin relieves paraquat-induced human MRC-5 fibroblast injury through inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome

Background

Paraquat (PQ) is a herbicide that is highly toxic to the lungs and kidneys. When it enters the body, it will disrupt the balance of the microenvironment in the body, induce a large number of inflammatory factors and cause cell damage. Polydatin (PD), resveratrol glycoside, has multiple pharmacological effects. However, the protective effect of PD on human embryo lung fibroblast damage caused by PQ poisoning has not been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory effect of PD on human embryo lung fibroblast damage caused by PQ poisoning.

Method

The optimal experimental concentration of PQ for human embryonic lung fibroblast MRC-5 was 100 µmol/L, and then the cells of 100 µmol/L PQ group were treated with different concentrations of PD for 24 h. MTT assay to detect MRC-5 cell viability and flow cytometry to detect apoptosis. The corresponding kit was used to detect the contents of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the levels of related inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6). Western blot detection of NLRP3 inflammatory body activation-related protein expression.

Results

Compared with the PQ group, cell activity, GSH-Px content, and SOD content in PD intervention group were significantly increased, while apoptosis, MDA content, inflammatory factor level, and activation-related proteins of the NLRP3 inflammasome were significantly reduced and were dose-dependent.

Conclusions

PD can relieve PQ-induced human MRC-5 fibroblasts injury by reducing the inflammatory response, improving the antioxidant stress capacity, and inhibiting the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

Therapeutic potential of genipin in various acute liver injury, fulminant hepatitis, NAFLD and other non-cancer liver diseases: More friend than foe

Genipin is an aglycone derived from the geniposide, the most abundant iridoid glucoside constituent of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis. For decades, genipin is the focus of studies as a versatile compound in the treatment of various pathogenic conditions. In particularly, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention and treatment of liver disease. Mounting experimental data has proved genipin possesses therapeutic potential for cholestatic, septic, ischemia/reperfusion-triggered acute liver injury, fulminant hepatitis and NAFLD. This critical review is a reflection on the valuable lessons from decades of research regarding pharmacological activities of genipin. Of note, genipin represents choleretic effect by potentiating bilirubin disposal and enhancement of genes in charge of the efflux of a number of organic anions. The anti-inflammatory capability of genipin is mediated by suppression of the production and function of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammasome. Moreover, genipin modulates various transcription factor and signal transduction pathway. Genipin appears to trigger the upregulation of several key genes encoding antioxidant and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. Furthermore, the medicinal impact of genipin extends to modulation of regulated cell death, including autophagic cell death, apoptosis, necroptosis and pyroptosis, and modulation of quality of cellular organelle. Another crucial effect of genipin appears to be linked to dual role in targeting uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2). As a typical UCP2-inhibiting compound, genipin could inhibit AMP-activated protein kinase or NF-κB in circumstance. On the contrary, reactive oxygen species production and cellular lipid deposits mediated by genipin through the upregulation of UCP2 is observed in liver steatosis, suggesting the precise role of genipin is disease-specific. Collectively, we comprehensively summarize the mechanisms and pathways associated with the hepatoprotective activity of genipin and discuss potential toxic impact. Notably, our focus is the direct medicinal effect of genipin itself, whereas its utility as a crosslinking agent in tissue engineering is out of scope for the current review. Further studies are therefore required to disentangle these complicated pharmacological properties to confer this natural agent a far greater potency.

5,7,3',4'-flavan-on-ol (taxifolin) protects against acetaminophen-induced liver injury by regulating the glutathione pathway

Taxifolin (TAX) reportedly exerts protective and therapeutic effects in liver. Herein, the effects of TAX against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated. Pharmacodynamics, pharmacology and metabolomics analyses of TAX were assessed on C57 mice and L-02 cells. TAX was administered for 7 days, and APAP was given on the last day to establish an acute liver injury model. ALT and AST levels were determined, and liver ROS, MDA, GST, GSH and GPX1 were analysed. The expression and protein abundance of GPX1, GPS-Pi, GCLC and GCLM were assessed by PCR and western blotting, and metabolic changes in cells and serum were investigated by UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS. Serum ALT and AST, and liver ROS, MDA, GST, GSH and GPX1 levels confirmed the protective effects of TAX. Besides, we found Only treating with TAX decreased the expression of CYP2E1 in mice liver tissue. TAX reversed the APAP-induced decrease in cell viability in L-02 cells, and reduced cellular ROS levels. Furthermore, TAX reversed the APAP-induced decrease in antioxidant enzymes at both mRNA and protein levels. Metabolomics analysis identified metabolites mainly related to glutathione metabolism (36 in vivo and 23 in vitro). The concentration of glutathione, oxidized glutathione, carnitine, succinic acid, pyroglutamic acid, citrulline, taurine, palmitoleic acid, phytoshingosine-1-P and sphingosine-1-P were close to normal levels after treating with TAX. These results indicate that TAX prevents APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting APAP metabolic activation mediated by CYP450 enzymes, modulating glutathione metabolism, and expression of related antioxidative signals. These properties could be harnessed to prevent or treat hepatotoxicity.