An assessment of the antihyperlipidemic ingredients of Qi Ge Decoction based on metabolomics combined with serum pharmacochemistry

This study aims to explore the pharmacological substance basis of Qi Ge Decoction (QG) in antihyperlipidemia through a combination of metabolomics and serum pharmacochemistry. We used ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight/MS (UPLC Q-TOF/MS) to analyze and identify the chemical constituents of QG in vitro and in blood chemical components. The metabolomics technology was used to analyze serum biomarkers of QG in preventing and treating hyperlipidemia. We constructed a mathematical model of the relationship between constituents absorbed into the blood and endogenous biomarkers and explored the potential therapeutic application of QG for the prevention and treatment of hyperlipidemia. Compared with the model group, the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride in the QG group were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). A total of 12 chemical components absorbed into the blood were identified, and 48 biomarkers of the hyperlipidemia model were obtained from serum metabolomic analysis, of which 15 metabolites were backregulated after QG intervention. Puerarin, hesperetin, puerarin xyloside, calycosin, and monohydroxy-tetramethoxyflavone had a high correlation with the biomarkers regulated by QG. This study elucidated the material basis of QG in the intervention of hyperlipidemia, thereby facilitating future research aimed at further revealing the pharmacodynamic material basis of QG's antihyperlipidemic effects.

The beneficial health effects of puerarin in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases: from mechanisms to therapeutics

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading causes of death globally that seriously threaten human health. Although novel western medicines have continued to be discovered over the past few decades to inhibit the progression of CVDs, new drug research and development for treating CVDs with less side effects and adverse reactions are continuously being desired. Puerarin is a natural product found in a variety of medicinal plants belonging to the flavonoid family with potent biological and pharmacological activities. Abundant research findings in the literature have suggested that puerarin possesses a promising prospect in treating CVDs. In recent years, numerous new molecular mechanisms of puerarin have been explored in experimental and clinical studies, providing new evidence for this plant metabolite to protect against CVDs. This article systematically introduces the history of use, bioavailability, and various dosage forms of puerarin and further summarizes recently published data on the major research advances and their underlying therapeutic mechanisms in treating CVDs. It may provide references for researchers in the fields of pharmacology, natural products, and internal medicine.

Linear association of compound dietary antioxidant index with hyperlipidemia: a cross-sectional study

Background

There is growing evidence that antioxidant-rich diets may prevent hyperlipidemia. However, the relationship between the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) and hyperlipidemia is unclear. The CDAI is a composite score reflecting the antioxidant content of an individual's diet, and this study aimed to investigate the relationship between CDAI and hyperlipidemia.

Methods

The study used the 2003-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for cross-sectional analyses and included 27,626 participants aged 20 years and older. The CDAI, which includes vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, and carotenoids, was calculated based on dietary intake reported in a 24-h recall interview. Hyperlipidemia was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Covariates included age, sex, race, education, marriage, household poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), body mass index (BMI), energy, carbohydrates, total fat, cholesterol, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and lipid-lowering medications. The association between CDAI and hyperlipidemia was explored through multiple logistic regression analyses and smoothed curve fitting. We also performed subgroup analyses and interaction tests to verify the relationship's stability.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, CDAI was negatively associated with the risk of developing hyperlipidemia (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99, p < 0.01). The results of weighted regression models stratified by quartiles of CDAI (-8.664 ≤ Q1 ≤ -2.209, -2.209 < Q2 ≤ -0.002, -0.002 < Q3 ≤ 2.774, 2.774 < Q4 ≤ 124.284), fully adjusted for confounding variables, indicated that compared with the bottom quartile (Q1) of the CDAI, Q2, Q3, and Q4 of participants had a lower advantage ratio (Q2: OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.78-1.06, p < 0.21; Q3: OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73-1.00, p < 0.05; and Q4: OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64-0.94, p < 0.01), which was confirmed by a test for trend (p < 0.05). Smoothed curve fit analysis showed linearity (p for non-linear = 0.0912). In summary, there is a linear negative relationship between CDAI and the risk of developing hyperlipidemia. Subgroup analyses by age, sex, ethnicity, education level, marriage, tobacco status, alcoholic drinking, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes did not indicate strong interactions.

Conclusion

In this large cross-sectional study, there was a linear negative association between CDAI and hyperlipidemia among US adults. Therefore increase antioxidant rich foods in your life as a prevention of hyperlipidemia.

Bio-Assay-Guided Isolation of Fractions and Constituents with Antioxidant and Lipid-lowering Activity from Allium cepa

Active fractions and constituents with antioxidant and lipid-lowering activities were investigated using bio-assay-guided isolation and identification. The data showed that the antioxidant fraction of A. cepa was AC50%, the main constituents of which were quercetin and isoquercitrin, by way of both ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) and bio-assay-guided purification and elucidation. Similarly, the lipid-lowering active fraction of A. cepa was AC30% with the main constituents of 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid and quercetin 3,4'-O-diglucoside. Also, bio-assay-guided isolation led to the isolation and identification of five known compounds with a purity of more than 98%, and quercetin was both the best free radical scavenger and lipid-lowering constituent. Moreover, the mechanism of the lipid-lowering effect of AC30% might be its reduction in mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and FAS gene in lipid synthesis. Otherwise, reducing the mRNA expression level of lipid synthesis genes, including SREBP1, SREBP2, fatty acid synthetase (FASN), β-Hydroxy β-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMGCR), stearoyl CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), and increasing the mRNA expression level of lipid decomposition gene, such as carnitine palmitoyl transferease-1 (CPT1), might be involved in the lipid-lowering activity of quercetin. This study suggested that Allium cepa might be used to prevent and treat oxidative stress and dislipidemia-related disorders, including NAFLD.

Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Natural Compounds in Diet-Associated Hepatic Inflammation

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are the most common causes of chronic liver disease and are increasingly emerging as a global health problem. Such disorders can lead to liver damage, resulting in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the activation of infiltrating immune cells. These are some of the common features of ALD progression in ASH (alcoholic steatohepatitis) and NAFLD to NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). Hepatic steatosis, followed by fibrosis, lead to a continuous progression accompanied by angiogenesis. This process creates hypoxia, which activates vascular factors, initiating pathological angiogenesis and further fibrosis. This forms a vicious cycle of ongoing damage and progression. This condition further exacerbates liver injury and may contribute to the development of comorbidities, such as metabolic syndrome as well as hepatocellular carcinoma. Increasing evidence suggests that anti-angiogenic therapy may have beneficial effects on these hepatic disorders and their exacerbation. Therefore, there is a great interest to deepen the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of natural anti-angiogenic products that could both prevent and control liver diseases. In this review, we focus on the role of major natural anti-angiogenic compounds against steatohepatitis and determine their potential therapeutic benefits in the treatment of liver inflammation caused by an imbalanced diet.

Puerarin Reduces Oxidative Damage and Photoaging Caused by UVA Radiation in Human Fibroblasts by Regulating Nrf2 and MAPK Signaling Pathways

Fibroblasts account for more than 95% of dermal cells maintaining dermal structure and function. However, UVA penetrates the dermis and causes oxidative stress that damages the dermis and accelerates skin aging. Puerarin, the main active ingredient of Puerariae lobata, has been demonstrated to withstand oxidative stress caused by a variety of factors. However, there are limited findings on whether puerarin protects fibroblasts from UVA-induced oxidative stress damage. The effects of puerarin on human skin fibroblasts (HSF) under UVA-induced oxidative stress were investigated in this study. It is found that puerarin upregulates antioxidant enzymes' mRNA expression level and their content through modulating the KEAP1-Nrf2/ARE signaling pathway, thus improving cell antioxidant capacity and successfully eliminating UVA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid oxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA). Additionally, puerarin blocks the overexpression of human extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), human c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK), and P38, which downregulates matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) expression and increases type I collagen (COL-1) expression. Moreover, preliminary research on mouse skin suggests that puerarin can hydrate, moisturize, and increase the antioxidant capacity of skin tissue. These findings suggest that puerarin can protect the skin against photoaging.

Cholesterol-Lowering Phytochemicals: Targeting the Mevalonate Pathway for Anticancer Interventions

There are a plethora of cancer causes and the road to fully understanding the carcinogenesis process remains a dream that keeps changing. However, a list of role players that are implicated in the carcinogens process is getting lengthier. Cholesterol is known as bad sterol that is heavily linked with cardiovascular diseases; however, it is also comprehensively associated with carcinogenesis. There is an extensive list of strategies that have been used to lower cholesterol; nevertheless, the need to find better and effective strategies remains vastly important. The role played by cholesterol in the induction of the carcinogenesis process has attracted huge interest in recent years. Phytochemicals can be dubbed as magic tramp cards that humans could exploit for lowering cancer-causing cholesterol. Additionally, the mechanisms that are regulated by phytochemicals can be targeted for anticancer drug development. One of the key role players in cancer development and suppression, Tumour Protein 53 (TP53), is crucial in regulating the biogenesis of cholesterol and is targeted by several phytochemicals. This minireview covers the role of p53 in the mevalonate pathway and how bioactive phytochemicals target the mevalonate pathway and promote p53-dependent anticancer activities.

Protective effect of isoflavones and triterpenoid saponins from pueraria lobata on liver diseases: A review

In recent years, with the improvement of people's living standard and the change of diet structure, liver disease and its related complications have become a significant public health problem globally. Pueraria lobata (Pueraria montana var. lobata (Willd.) Sanjappa & Pradeep) belongs to the genus Pueraria, which is widely planted and used as medicine and food in Asia with a long history. A variety of natural active products, including puerarin, daidzein, formononetin, genistein, and soyasaponin, have been isolated and identified from pueraria lobata. A large number of studies have shown that various natural active products of pueraria lobata can play a protective role in different types of liver diseases by regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory response, lipid metabolism, etc. In this review, we focused on the protective effects of isoflavones and triterpenoid saponins from pueraria lobata on the liver through different targeted therapeutic mechanisms. What's more, we summarized their therapeutic potential for different types of liver diseases to provide evidence for their clinical application.

Jeopardy of COVID-19: Rechecking the Perks of Phytotherapeutic Interventions

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the reason for worldwide pandemic, has already masked around 220 countries globally. This disease is induced by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Arising environmental stress, increase in the oxidative stress level, weak immunity and lack of nutrition deteriorates the clinical status of the infected patients. Though several researches are at its peak for understanding and bringing forward effective therapeutics, yet there is no promising solution treating this disease directly. Medicinal plants and their active metabolites have always been promising in treating many clinical complications since time immemorial. Mother nature provides vivid chemical structures, which act multi-dimensionally all alone or synergistically in mitigating several diseases. Their unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity with least side effects have made them more effective candidate for pharmacological studies. These medicinal plants inhibit attachment, encapsulation and replication of COVID-19 viruses by targeting various signaling molecules such as angiotensin converting enzyme-2, transmembrane serine protease 2, spike glycoprotein, main protease etc. This property is re-examined and its potency is now used to improve the existing global health crisis. This review is an attempt to focus various antiviral activities of various noteworthy medicinal plants. Moreover, its implications as prophylactic or preventive in various secondary complications including neurological, cardiovascular, acute kidney disease, liver disease are also pinpointed in the present review. This knowledge will help emphasis on the therapeutic developments for this novel coronavirus where it can be used as alone or in combination with the repositioned drugs to combat COVID-19.

Bioactivity of Dietary Polyphenols: The Role in LDL-C Lowering

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of the death around the world. An elevation of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. To achieve optimal plasma LDL-C levels, clinal therapies were investigated which targeted different metabolism pathways. However, some therapies also caused various adverse effects. Thus, there is a need for new treatment options and/or combination therapies to inhibit the LDL-C level. Dietary polyphenols have received much attention in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases due to their potential LDL-C lowering effects. However, the effectiveness and potential mechanisms of polyphenols in lowering LDL-C is not comprehensively summarized. This review focused on dietary polyphenols that could reduce LDL-C and their mechanisms of action. This review also discussed the limitations and suggestions regarding previous studies.

Potential Effects of Dietary Isoflavones on Drug-Induced Liver Injury

Numerous prescribed drugs and herbal and dietary supplements have been reported to cause drug-induced acute liver injury, which is a frequent cause of acute liver failure (ALF). It is a tremendous challenge with ever-increasing drug application in the medication system for huge populations. Drug-induced acute liver injury can lead to diverse pathologies similar to acute and chronic hepatitis, acute liver failure, biliary obstruction, fatty liver disease, and so on. Recently, extensive work demonstrated that isoflavones play an essential and protecting role in drug-induced liver injury (DILI). The isoflavones mediated hepatoprotection by modulating specific genes linked with control of cellular redox homeostasis and inflammatory responses. Isoflavones upregulate oxidative stress-responsive nuclear factor erythroid 2-like 2 (Nrf2), downregulate inflammatory nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways, and modulate a balance between cell survival and death. Moreover, isoflavones actively inhibit the expression of cytochromes P450 (CYPs) enzyme during drug metabolism. Moreover, isoflavones are also linked with farnesoid X receptor (FXR) activation and signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in hepatoprotection DILI. In vivo and in vitro studies clearly stated that isoflavones bear strong antioxidant potential and promising agents for hepatotoxicity prevention and stressed their potential role as therapeutic supplements in DILI. The current review will elaborate on isoflavones’ preventive and therapeutic potential concisely and highlight various molecular targets to exert a protective effect on DILI.

Quercetin Improves Cardiomyocyte Vulnerability to Hypoxia by Regulating SIRT1/TMBIM6-Related Mitophagy and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is an important pathological mechanism underlying cardiovascular diseases and is commonly caused by hypoxia. Moreover, hypoxic injury occurs not only in common cardiovascular diseases but also following various treatments of heart-related conditions. One of the major mechanisms underlying hypoxic injury is oxidative stress. Quercetin has been shown to exert antioxidant stress and vascular protective effects, making it a promising candidate for treating cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, we examined the protective effect of quercetin on human cardiomyocytes subjected to hypoxia-induced oxidative stress damage and its underlying mechanism. Human cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in vitro with or without quercetin pretreatment; thereafter, flow cytometry, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, laser scanning confocal microscopy, quantitative PCR, western blotting, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to analyze the effects of quercetin on cardiomyocytes. We found that H/R induced reactive oxygen species overproduction and endoplasmic reticulum stress, as well as inhibited the function of the mitochondria/endoplasmic reticulum and mitophagy, eventually leading to apoptosis and decreasing the viability of human cardiomyocytes. Quercetin pretreatment inhibited H/R-mediated overproduction of reactive oxygen species and damage caused by oxidative stress, increased mitophagy, regulated mRNA and protein expression of transmembrane BAX inhibitor-1 motif-containing 6 (TMBIM6), regulated endoplasmic reticulum stress, and improved the vulnerability of human cardiomyocytes to H/R. Furthermore, transfection with short interfering RNA against silent information regulator protein 1 (SIRT1) counteracted the protective effects of quercetin on cardiomyocytes. Thus, quercetin was predicted to regulate mitophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress through SIRT1/TMBIM6 and inhibit H/R-induced oxidative stress damage. These findings may be useful for developing treatments for hypoxic injury-induced cardiovascular diseases and further highlight the potential of quercetin for regulating mitochondrial quality control and endoplasmic reticulum function.

Puerarin improved growth performance and postmortem meat quality by regulating lipid metabolism of cattle under hot environment

This study aims to evaluate the effect of puerarin on performance, meat quality, and serum indexes of beef cattle under hot environment. Thirty-two bulls were divided into four groups and fed diet supplemented with puerarin at 0, 200, 400, or 800 mg/kg. Results showed that heat stress was employed for 54 out of 60 days, 400 mg/kg group declined serum cortisol (COR) contents, all treatments increased the contents of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total superoxide dismutase activity; in addition, glutathione peroxidase activity of 200 mg/kg group were enhanced, only 800 mg/kg group enhanced immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol contents compared with the control (p < .05). Moreover, 400-mg/kg puerarin increased serum growth hormone levels compared with 200 mg/kg group but declined COR concentrations compared with 200 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg groups (p < .05). More importantly, average daily gain and daily matter intake, and intramuscular fat contents of 400 mg/kg group were enhanced, but the shear force of beef in 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg groups were declined compared with the control (p < .05). These findings indicated that supplemental with puerarin enhanced immune and antioxidant, and 400 mg/kg of puerarin improved performance and meat quality by normalizing levels of stress hormones and increasing intramuscular fat deposition of beef cattle under hot environment.

Phytotherapy for Cardiovascular Disease: A Bench-to-Bedside Approach

At present, cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and global trends suggest that this panorama will persist or worsen in the near future. Thus, optimization of treatment strategies and the introduction of novel therapeutic alternatives for CVD represent key objectives in contemporary biomedical research. In recent years, phytotherapy-defined as the therapeutic use of whole or minimally modified plant components-has ignited large scientific interest, with a resurgence of abundant investigation on a wide array of medicinal herbs (MH) for CVD and other conditions. Numerous MH have been observed to intervene in the pathophysiology of CVD via a myriad of molecular mechanisms, including antiinflammatory, anti-oxidant, and other beneficial properties, which translate into the amelioration of three essential aspects of the pathogenesis of CVD: Dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. Although the preclinical data in this scenario is very rich, the true clinical impact of MH and their purported mechanisms of action is less clear, as large-scale robust research in this regard is in relatively early stages and faces important methodological challenges. This review offers a comprehensive look at the most prominent preclinical and clinical evidence currently available concerning the use of MH in the treatment of CVD from a bench-to-bedside approach.

Palmatine regulates bile acid cycle metabolism and maintains intestinal flora balance to maintain stable intestinal barrier

OBJECTIVE

Palmatine (PAL) is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid that has been widely used in the pharmaceutical field. The current study aimed to investigate the function of PAL in improving hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in rats.

METHODS

Biochemical analysis of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) was performed on rats. Total bile acid (TBA) and stool TC and TBA were also measured to assess the changes in total bile acid excretion. RT-qPCR was employed to detect the expression of genes related to bile acid metabolism, and the Western blot assay was used to detect the levels of CYP7A1, ZO-1, ZO-2, and Claudin-1. The siRNA experiment was employed to further investigate whether PAL regulated CYP7A1 through PPARα. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and FITC-dextran (FD-4) were also tested to assess the intestinal permeability.

RESULTS

AL-treated rats had lower TC, TG, LDL-C levels, lower serum TBA levels, and increased fecal TBA and TC levels. Furthermore, CYP7A1 protein expression was up-regulated in PAL-treated rats. Additionally, PAL regulated bile acid metabolism by up-regulating the expression of CYP7A1 and PPARα and down-regulating the expression of FXR. Besides, the area of plasma FD-4 and LPS content in the PAL group were reduced, and the expression of proteins ZO-1, ZO-2 and Claudin-1 related to intestinal permeability was increased.

CONCLUSION

All in all, PAL could mediate the PPARα-CYP7A1 pathway to maintain the balance of intestinal flora, regulate the bile acid metabolism, and reduce the blood lipids of rats, thereby protecting against hyperlipidemia.

Hepatoprotective effect of polyphenols in rats with experimental thioacetamide-induced toxic liver pathology

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with a number of disorders (diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases), and can also be induced by drugs or toxic compounds. Recently the important branch of medicine is the search for effective means of prevention and treatment of fatty hepatosis. Our work was aimed to study the effect of some biologically active natural polyphenols (resveratrol and pinosylvin stilbenes as well as dihydromyricetin dihydroflavonol) on the function and histologic features of the liver. In the experimental model of thioacetamide-induced toxic hepaptitis, the male rats of the Wistar line daily received the effective doses of polyphenols intragastically by gavage together with 0.05% thioacetamide added to drinking water. All studied polyphenols contributed to stabilization of rat weight and a two-fold significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the level of direct bilirubin in the blood serum of animals treated with thioacetamide. Histological analysis of the liver confirmed a decrease in inflammation and hemorrhage in animals treated with polyphenols amid continued administration of thioacetamide for 30 days. Based on the data obtained, it can be concluded that the natural polyphenols which belong to the classes of dihydroflavonols (dihydromyricetin) and stilbenes (resveratrol and pinosylvin) have a positive effect on liver function in the experimental model of toxic hepatosis. The studied polyphenols can be considered as potential hepatoprotective drugs used as a part of the liver diseases complex therapy.

Polyphenol Effects on Cholesterol Metabolism via Bile Acid Biosynthesis, CYP7A1: A Review

Atherosclerosis, the main contributor to coronary heart disease, is characterised by an accumulation of lipids such as cholesterol in the arterial wall. Reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) reduces cholesterol via its conversion into bile acids (BAs). During RCT in non-hepatic peripheral tissues, cholesterol is transferred to high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles and returned to the liver for conversion into BAs predominantly via the rate-limiting enzyme, cholesterol 7 α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). Numerous reports have described that polyphenol induced increases in BA excretion and corresponding reductions in total and LDL cholesterol in animal and in-vitro studies, but the process whereby this occurs has not been extensively reviewed. There are three main mechanisms by which BA excretion can be augmented: (1) increased expression of CYP7A1; (2) reduced expression of intestinal BA transporters; and (3) changes in the gut microbiota. Here we summarise the BA metabolic pathways focusing on CYP7A1, how its gene is regulated via transcription factors, diurnal rhythms, and microRNAs. Importantly, we will address the following questions: (1) Can polyphenols enhance BA secretion by modulating the CYP7A1 biosynthetic pathway? (2) Can polyphenols alter the BA pool via changes in the gut microbiota? (3) Which polyphenols are the most promising candidates for future research? We conclude that while in rodents some polyphenols induce CYP7A1 expression predominantly by the LXRα pathway, in human cells, this may occur through FXR, NF-KB, and ERK signalling. Additionally, gut microbiota is important for the de-conjugation and excretion of BAs. Puerarin, resveratrol, and quercetin are promising candidates for further research in this area.

Protective Effects of Flavone from Tamarix aphylla against CCl4-Induced Liver Injury in Mice Mediated by Suppression of Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Angiogenesis

The current study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the beneficial effects of 3,5-dihydroxy-4',7-dimethoxyflavone isolated from Tamarix aphylla L. against liver injury in mice. Liver injury was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) at a dose of 0.4 mL/kg mixed in olive oil at ratio (1:4) twice a week for 6 consecutive weeks. The administration of CCl₄ caused significant histopathological changes in liver tissues while the pre-treatment with the flavone at dose of 10 and 25 mg/kg ameliorated the observed liver damages. Also, it markedly reduced hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level as well as increased the activities of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) compared with their recorded levels in CCl₄ model group. Moreover, the immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the enhancement in the protein level of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) while the protein levels of cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 (caspase-3), Bcl-2-associated x protein (Bax), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and CD31 were suppressed following the flavone treatement. These results suggest that the flavone can inhibit liver injury induced in mice owning to its impact on the oxidation, apoptotic and angiogenesis mechanisms. Further pharmacological investigations are essential to determine the effectiveness of the flavone in human.

Effect of Puerarin Regulated mTOR Signaling Pathway in Experimental Liver Injury

It is known that excessive hepatocellular apoptosis is a typical characteristic of hepatic disease, and is regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway. As the main active component of Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) roots, which is frequently used to treat hepatic diseases, Puerarin (Pue) has been reported to alleviate and protect against hepatic injury. However, it is unclear whether Pue can inhibit mTOR signaling to prevent excessive apoptosis in the treatment of hepatic diseases. In the present study, Pue effectively ameliorated pathological injury of the liver, decreased serum enzyme (ALT, AST, γ-GT, AKP, DBIL, and TBIL) levels, regulated the balance between pro-inflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, and TGF-β1) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10), restored the cell cycle and inhibited hepatocellular apoptosis and caspase-3 expression in rats with liver injury induced by 2-AAF/PH. Pue inhibited p-mTOR, p-AKT and Raptor activity, and increased Rictor expression in the liver tissues of rats with experimental liver injury. These results indicated that Pue effectively regulated the activation of mTOR signaling pathway in the therapeutic and prophylactic process of Pue on experimental liver injury.

Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate has hepatoprotective effects in an oxaliplatin‑induced model of liver injury

Oxaliplatin is a core chemotherapeutic agent used for the treatment of colorectal liver metastasis; however, liver injury caused by oxaliplatin increases the risk of peri‑operative morbidity and mortality. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate (MgiG) is a magnesium salt of 18‑α glycyrrhizic acid stereoisomer that has demonstrated liver‑protective effects against toxins and hepatitis. In the present study, the liver‑protective effect of MgiG against oxaliplatin‑induced hepatic injury was examined in vitro and in vivo. The results demonstrated that MgiG had a protective effect against oxaliplatin‑induced liver injury, as evidenced by the alleviation of hepatic pathological damage and transaminase levels. The protective effect of MgiG was demonstrated to be correlated with inhibition of oxidative stress, the interleukin‑6 pathway and the coagulation system. Altogether, the present findings suggested that MgiG may have potential value in the clinical prevention and treatment of oxaliplatin‑induced liver injury.

Taiwanese Green Propolis Ethanol Extract Delays the Progression of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Rats Treated with Streptozotocin/High-Fat Diet

Taiwanese green propolis ethanol extract (TGPE) is produced only in Taiwan and has a different composition from other types of propolis. TGPE is known for its anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and anti-microbial properties, but the effects and mechanisms of TGPE in the modulation of diabetes are unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of TGPE on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a streptozotocin/high-fat-diet (STZ/HFD)-induced T2DM rat model. The results revealed that TGPE delayed the development and progression of T2DM and reduced the severity of β-cell failure. TGPE also attenuated inflammation and reactive oxygen species ROS in the rats. Moreover, there were higher levels of oxidant cytokines, leptin, and adiponectin in the serum of the TGPE-treated group. Unlike Brazilian propolis, TGPE promoted hepatic genes PPAR-α and CYP7A1, which were related to lipid catabolism and removal. TGPE may thus delay the progression of T2DM through anti-inflammation effects, anti-oxidation effects, and balancing lipid metabolism. It is suggested that TGPE can be a potential alternative medicine for T2DM.

The Potential and Action Mechanism of Polyphenols in the Treatment of Liver Diseases

Liver disease, involving a wide range of liver pathologies from fatty liver, hepatitis, and fibrosis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, is a serious health problem worldwide. In recent years, many natural foods and herbs with abundant phytochemicals have been proposed as health supplementation for patients with hepatic disorders. As an important category of phytochemicals, natural polyphenols have attracted increasing attention as potential agents for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. The striking capacities in remitting oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, insulin resistance, and inflammation put polyphenols in the spotlight for the therapies of liver diseases. It has been reported that many polyphenols from a wide range of foods and herbs exert therapeutic effects on liver injuries via complicated mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to have a systematical review to sort out current researches to help better understand the potentials of polyphenols in liver diseases. In this review, we aim to summarize and update the existing evidence of natural polyphenols in the treatment of various liver diseases by in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies, while special attention is paid to the action mechanisms.

Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Paulownia fortunei Flowers Attenuates Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia, Hepatic Steatosis and Insulin Resistance in Obesity Mice by AMPK Pathway

The flavonoid-rich extract from Paulownia fortunei flowers (EPF) has been reported to prevent obesity and other lipid metabolism disease. However, the mechanism of its protective effects is not yet clear. The objective of this study was to investigate molecular factors involved in the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of EPF in obese mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male h ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice were fed a HFD containing or not containing the EPF (50 or 100 mg/kg) for eight weeks. EPF reduced body weight gain, lipid accumulation in livers and levels of lipid, glucose and insulin in plasma as well as reduced insulin resistance as compared with the HFD group. EPF significantly decreased serum aminotransferase activity of the HFD group. We observed that EPF administration significantly increased the level of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and prevented fat deposits in livers and HepG2 cells, but these effects were blocked by compound C (an AMPK inhibitor). The protective effects of EPF were probably associated with the decrease in HMGCR, SREBP-1c and FAS expressions and the increase in CPT1 and phosphor-IRS-1 expressions. Our results suggest that EPF might be a potential natural candidate for the treatment and/or prevention of overweight and hepatic and metabolic-related alterations induced by HFD.

Nrf2 is crucial for the down-regulation of Cyp7a1 induced by arachidonic acid in Hepg2 cells

In former research, cyp7a1 expression was decreased but Nrf2 transcription and hepatic arachidonic acid (AA) concentration were increased in high-fat diet fed mice. This study aims to investigate the influence of AA in CYP7A1 expression and the role of Nrf2 in regulating CYP7A1 in the process. HepG2 cells were administered with different concentrations of AA. Nrf2 and CYP7A1 expressions were analyzed by real-time PCR and western blot. Nrf2 silenced and over-expressed cell models were constructed by Nrf2 siRNA and eukaryotic expression vector transient transfections and were used to investigate the role of Nrf2 in regulating CYP7A1 following AA administration. The results showed that Nrf2 was increased dose-dependently but CYP7A1 was decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with increasing concentrations of AA. The expression of CYP7A1 was increased by Nrf2 silence and was decreased by Nrf2 over-expression in HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of AA. In conclusion, Nrf2 plays a significant role in the down-regulation of CYP7A1 induced by AA in HepG2 cells.

Repeated dose studies with pure Epigallocatechin-3-gallate demonstrated dose and route dependant hepatotoxicity with associated dyslipidemia

EGCG (Epigallocatechin-3-gallate) is the major active principle catechin found in green tea. Skepticism regarding the safety of consuming EGCG is gaining attention, despite the fact that it is widely being touted for its potential health benefits, including anti-cancer properties. The lack of scientific data on safe dose levels of pure EGCG is of concern, while EGCG has been commonly studied as a component of GTE (Green tea extract) and not as a single active constituent. This study has been carried out to estimate the maximum tolerated non-toxic dose of pure EGCG and to identify the treatment related risk factors. In a fourteen day consecutive treatment, two different administration modalities were compared, offering an improved [i.p (intraperitoneal)] and limited [p.o (oral)] bioavailability. A trend of dose and route dependant hepatotoxicity was observed particularly with i.p treatment and EGCG increased serum lipid profile in parallel to hepatotoxicity. Fourteen day tolerable dose of EGCG was established as 21.1 mg/kg for i.p and 67.8 mg/kg for p.o. We also observed that, EGCG induced effects by both treatment routes are reversible, subsequent to an observation period for further fourteen days after cessation of treatment. It was demonstrated that the severity of EGCG induced toxicity appears to be a function of dose, route of administration and period of treatment.

Heat Killed Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 Reduces Fibrosis Effects on the Liver and Heart in High Fat Diet-Hamsters via TGF-β Suppression

Obesity is one of the major risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and NAFLD is highly associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Scholars have suggested that certain probiotics may significantly impact cardiovascular health, particularly certain Lactobacillus species, such as Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 (Lr263) probiotics, which have been shown to reduce obesity and arteriosclerosis in vivo. In the present study, we examined the potential of heat-killed bacteria to attenuate high fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic and cardiac damages and the possible underlying mechanism of the positive effects of heat-killed Lr263 oral supplements. Heat-killed Lr263 treatments (625 and 3125 mg/kg-hamster/day) were provided as a daily supplement by oral gavage to HFD-fed hamsters for eight weeks. The results show that heat-killed Lr263 treatments reduce fatty liver syndrome. Moreover, heat-killed Lactobacillus reuteri GMNL-263 supplementation in HFD hamsters also reduced fibrosis in the liver and heart by reducing transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) expression levels. In conclusion, heat-killed Lr263 can reduce lipid metabolic stress in HFD hamsters and decrease the risk of fatty liver and cardiovascular disease.

Effects of puerarin on lipid accumulation and metabolism in high-fat diet-fed mice

In order to investigate the mechanisms by which puerarin from kudzu root extract regulates lipid metabolism, fifty mice were randomly assigned to five groups: normal diet, high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD containing 0.2%, 0.4% or 0.8% puerarin for 12 weeks. Body weight, intraperitioneal adipose tissue (IPAT) weight, serum biochemical parameters, and hepatic and feces lipids were measured. Activity and mRNA and protein expressions of hepatic lipid metabolism-related enzymes were analyzed. Compared with HFD, 0.4% and 0.8% puerarin significantly decreased body and IPAT weight. There was a significant decrease in the serum and hepatic concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides and leptin in mice fed the 0.4% and 0.8% puerarin diets compared with HFD. Fatty acid synthase activity was suppressed in mice fed the 0.4% and 0.8% puerarin diets, while the activities of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), carnitine acyltransferase (CAT) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) were increased. mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ 2 (PPARγ 2) was down-regulated in liver of mice fed the 0.8% diet compared with HFD, while mRNA expression of CAT and HSL was considerably up-regulated by 0.4% and 0.8% puerarin diets. The protein expression of PPARγ2 in liver was decreased and those of p-AMPK, HSL and p-HSL were increased in mice fed 0.4% and 0.8% puerarin diets. These results suggest that > 0.4% puerarin influenced the activity, mRNA and protein levels of hepatic lipid metabolism-related enzymes, decreasing serum and liver lipids, body weight gain and fat accumulation. Puerarin might be beneficial to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.

Puerarin ameliorates carbon tetrachloride-induced oxidative DNA damage and inflammation in mouse kidney through ERK/Nrf2/ARE pathway

Puerarin (PU), a natural flavonoid, has been shown to possess many benefits and medicinal properties. In this study, we evaluated the effect of puerarin on oxidative stress and inflammation in kidney induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and explored the potential mechanisms underlying this effect. Our results showed that puerarin administration significantly inhibited CCl4-induced kidney injury, which indicated by both diagnostic indicators and histopathological analysis. One of the potential mechanisms of puerarin action was decreased the oxidative stress, as evidenced by decreasing of lipid peroxidation level, increasing of SOD, CAT and GPx activities and GSH level. Puerarin also decreased 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (one product of oxidative DNA damage) level and increased the expression levels of NQO1, GST and HO-1 in kidneys of CCl4-treated mice. Moreover, western blot analysis showed that puerarin decreased production of pro-inflammatory markers including iNOS and COX-2 in CCl4-treated mouse kidney. We found that puerarin significantly inhibited the ERK phosphorylation and increased the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to the nuclear fraction, which in turn inactivated NF-κB and the inflammatory cytokines in kidneys of the CCl4-treated mice. Altogether, these results suggest that puerarin could protect the CCl4-induced oxidative stress and inflammation by ERK/Nrf2/ARE pathway.