Protective Mechanism of Edible Food Plants against Alcoholic Liver Disease with Special Mention to Polyphenolic Compounds

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one type of liver disease, causing a global healthcare problem and mortality. The liver undergoes tissue damage by chronic alcohol consumption because it is the main site for metabolism of ethanol. Chronic alcohol exposure progresses from alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) to alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), which further lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and even hepatocellular cancer. Therapeutic interventions to combat ALD are very limited such as use of corticosteroids. However, these therapeutic drugs are not effective for long-term usage. Therefore, additional effective and safe therapies to cope with ALD are urgently needed. Previous studies confirmed that edible food plants and their bioactive compounds exert a protective effect against ALD. In this review article, we summarized the hepatoprotective potential of edible food plants and their bioactive compounds. The underlying mechanism for the prevention of ALD by edible food plants was as follows: anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, lipid regulation, inhibition of apoptosis, gut microbiota composition modulation, and anti-fibrosis.

The impact of fixation method on the biochemical characteristics of hawk tea (Litsea coreana)

Fixation is one of the critical steps in tea processing and can cause various physico-chemical changes, thus affecting tea quality. There are many tea processing techniques, but their influence on quality remains unclear. Here, we studied the impact of different fixation methods, including for 6 or 10 min by machine, by iron pan, or by boiling water, on the biochemical characteristics of hawk tea. The results showed that tea fixation technique had a significant influence on the sensory quality, biochemical components, and antioxidant activity of the tea. Compared to other fixation techniques, fixation by boiling water produced a more nutritious hawk tea with stronger DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity (EC50 = 6.56 μg/mL). Processing with boiling water also resulted in a better sensory quality with a unique sweet aftertaste. This tea also contained more polyphenols (19.60%), total amino acids (21,219 mg/100 g), essential amino acids (10,564 mg/100 g), and trace elements (5873.13 mg/kg). These results can guide the development of hawk tea products.

Grape-Leaf Extract Attenuates Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury via Interference with NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Grape (Vitis vinifera) leaf extracts (GLEs) are known to be rich in phenolic compounds that exert potent antioxidant effects. Given the vulnerability of the liver to oxidative damage, antioxidants have been proposed as therapeutic agents and coadjuvant drugs to ameliorate liver pathologies. The current study was designed to characterize secondary metabolites and investigate the hepatoprotective effects of GLE and its underlying mechanisms. The secondary metabolites were profiled using HPLC–PDA–ESI-MS, and forty-five compounds were tentatively identified. In experimental in vivo design, liver injury was induced by oral administration of high doses of ethanol (EtOH) for 12 days to male Sprague Dawley rats that were split into five different groups. Blood samples and livers were then collected, and used for various biochemical, immunohistochemical, and histopathological analyses. Results showed that GLE-attenuated liver injury and promoted marked hepatic antioxidant effects, in addition to suppressing the increased heat-shock protein-70 expression. Moreover, GLE suppressed EtOH-induced expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 subunit and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α. Caspase-3 and survivin were enhanced by EtOH intake and suppressed by GLE intake. Finally, EtOH-induced histopathological changes in liver sections were markedly normalized by GLE. In conclusion, our results suggested that GLE interferes with NF-κB signaling and induces antioxidant effects, which both play a role in attenuating apoptosis and associated liver injury in a model of EtOH-induced liver damage in rats.

Ethnomedicinal Uses, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Toxicology of Species from the GenusAjugaL.: A Systematic Review

The present review is aimed at providing a comprehensive summary of the botanical characteristics, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies of the genus Ajuga L. The extensive literature survey revealed Ajuga L. species to be a group of important medicinal plants used for the ethnomedical treatment of rheumatism, fever, gout, sclerosis, analgesia, inflammation, hypertension, hyperglycemia, joint pain, palsy, amenorrhea, etc., although only a few reports address the clinical use and toxicity of these plants. Currently, more than 280 chemical constituents have been isolated and characterized from these plants. Among these constituents, neo-clerodane diterpenes and diterpenoids, phytoecdysteroids, flavonoids, and iridoids are the major bioactive compounds, possessing wide-reaching biological activities both in vivo and in vitro, including anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antitumor, anti-oxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antifeedant, antidiarrhoeal, hypolipidemic, diuretic, hypoglycaemic, immunomodulatory, vasorelaxant, larvicidal, antimutagenic, and neuroprotective activity. This review is aimed at summarizing the current knowledge of the ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and toxicities of the genus Ajuga L. to reveal its therapeutic potentials, offering opportunities for future researches. Therefore, more focus should be paid to gathering information about their toxicology data, quality-control measures, and the clinical application of the bioactive ingredients from Ajuga L. species.

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.

A review on phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Litsea coreana

CONTEXT

Litsea coreana H. Lév. (Lauraceae) is used as an ethnic herb or beverage in China. Substantial studies indicate that it contains a variety of compounds and shows diverse bioactivities with no toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

This review analyzes and summarizes the ethnopharmacological applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities and molecular mechanisms of L. coreana.

METHODS

Related literature (from 1998 to 2016) was obtained and compiled via searching databases including Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, CNKI and PubMed. Keywords (Litsea coreana, hawk tea, eagle tea and laoying cha) were used to select the articles.

RESULTS

Studies indicate that L. coreana contains characteristic polysaccharides, polyphenols, essential oils, and numerious flavonoids, which exhibit remarkable bioactivities, such as hepatoprotection, hyperglycaemia, anti-inflammation, antioxidation and antibacterial, through multiple molecular mechanisms.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides a systematic review on the phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of L. coreana which should be useful for further study and application of this medicinal herb.

The Genus Patrinia: A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemical and Pharmacological Studies

The aim of the present review is to comprehensively outline the botanical description, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology of Patrinia, and to discuss possible trends for the further study of medicinal plants from the genus Patrinia. The genus Patrinia plays an important role in Asian medicine for the treatment of erysipelas, conjunctival congestion with swelling and pain, peri-appendicular abscesses, lung carbuncle, dysentery, leucorrhea, and postpartum disease. More than 210 chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from Patrinia plants, especially P. scabiosaefolia Fisch., P. scabra Bunge, P. villosa Juss., P. heterophylla Bunge and P. rupestris(Pall.) Juss[Formula: see text] Of these compounds, triterpenoids and saponins, iridoids, flavonoids, and lignans are the major or active constituents. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that some monomer compounds and crude extracts from the genus Patrinia possess wide pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral effects. In addition, they have been shown to have valuable and positive effects on the immune and nervous system in experimental animals. There are also some reports on the clinical uses and toxicity of these species. However, few reports have been published concerning the material identification or quality control of Patrinia species, and the clinical uses and toxic effects of these plants are relatively sparse. More attention must be given to these issues.

Anti-apoptotic effect of San Huang Shel Shin Tang cyclodextrin complex (SHSSTc) on CCl4 -induced hepatotoxicity in rats

The metabolic loading is heavier in liver especially when injured or inflammation. San Huang Shel Shin Tang (SHSST) was an old traditional herbal decoction, which composed with Rheum officinale Baill, Scutellaria baicalnsis Geprgi and Coptis chinensis Franch (1:1:2 in weight), can provide a liver protection effects. We used a beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) drug modification method in reduce of the necessary dose of the SHSST. As the results, the FAS-FADD expressions leaded apoptosis in CCl4 intraperitoneal (IP) injection induced acute liver injury in rats. Silymarin, baicalein, SHSST, and SHSST β-CD complex (SHSSTc) pretreatments protected liver through the decreasing of the expressions of FAS-FADD and downstream caspase-3 and caspase-8. Particularly, SHSSTc (30 mg/kg day) treatment enhanced cell survival pathway activation through the PI3K, Akt and Bad phosphorylation. Compared with SHSST as well as silymarin and baicalein, SHSSTc provided a magnificent liver protection effect, especially in survival pathway activation/TUNEL-apoptotic cell reduction/serum cholesterol level suppression. All these data suggested that β-CD complex modified the SHSST and promoted the bioavailability and liver protection effects. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 663-670, 2016.

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of the genus Litsea: An update

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Litsea is one of the most diverse genera of evergreen trees or shrubs belong to Lauraceae, and comprises roughly 400 species of tree that are distributed abundantly throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, North and South America. Litsea species have been used globally in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases including influenza, stomach aches, diarrhea, diabetes, vomiting, bone pain, inflammation, illness related to the central nervous system and other ailments. The purpose of this review is to provide updated, comprehensive and categorized information on the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological research of Litsea species in order to explore their therapeutic potential and evaluate future research opportunities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All the available information on Litsea species was actualised by systematically searching the scientific literatures including Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Indian, and South American herbal classics, library catalogs and scientific databases (PubMed, SciFinder, Web of Science, Google Scholar, VIP and Wanfang). The Plant List, International Plant Name index and Scientific Database of China Plant Species were used to validate scientific names.

RESULTS

407 secondary metabolites have been reported from Litsea species. Litsea Species are sources of secondary metabolites with interesting chemical structures (alkaloids, lactones, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, lignans, and essential oils) and significant bioactivities. Crude extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents isolated from Litsea show a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-HIV, insecticidal, etc.

CONCLUSIONS

From data collected in this review, the genus Litsea comprises a wide range of therapeutically promising and valuable plants, and has attracted much attention owing to its multiple functions. Many traditional uses of Litsea species have now been validated by modern pharmacology research. Deep and systematic phytochemical investigation of the genus Litsea and the pharmacological properties, especially its mechanism of action and toxicology, to illustrate its ethnomedicinal use, explore the therapeutic potential and support further health-care product development will undoubtedly be the focus of further research. Therefore, detailed and extensive studies and clinical evaluation of Litsea species should be carried out in future for the safety approval of therapeutic applications.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of the genus pedicularis used in traditional Chinese medicine

In the present review, the literature data on the chemical constituents and biological investigations of the genus Pedicularis are summarized. Some species of Pedicularis have been widely applied in traditional Chinese medicine. A wide range of chemical components including iridoid glycosides, phenylpropanoid glycosides (PhGs), lignans glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids and other compounds have been isolated and identified from the genus Pedicularis. In vitro and in vivo studies indicated some monomer compounds and extracts from the genus Pedicularis have been found to possess antitumor, hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, antihaemolysis, antibacterial activity, fatigue relief of skeletal muscle, nootropic effect and other activities.

Saikosaponin-D attenuates heat stress-induced oxidative damage in LLC-PK1 cells by increasing the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes and HSP72

Heat stress stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause oxidative damage in the kidney. This study clarifies the mechanism by which saikosaponin-d (SSd), which is extracted from the roots of Bupleurum falcatum L, protects heat-stressed pig kidney proximal tubular (LLC-PK1) cells against oxidative damage. SSd alone is not cytotoxic at concentrations of 1 or 3 μg/mL as demonstrated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. To assess the effects of SSd on heat stress-induced cellular damage, LLC-PK1 cells were pretreated with various concentrations of SSd, heat stressed at 42°C for 1 h, and then returned to 37°C for 9 h. DNA ladder and MTT assays demonstrated that SSd helped to prevent heat stress-induced cellular damage when compared to untreated cells. Additionally, pretreatment with SSd increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) but decreased the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in a dose-dependent manner when compared to controls. Furthermore, real-time PCR and Western blot analysis demonstrated that SSd significantly increased the expression of copper and zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), CAT, GPx-1 and heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) at both the mRNA and protein levels. In conclusion, these results are the first to demonstrate that SSd ameliorates heat stress-induced oxidative damage by modulating the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes and HSP72 in LLC-PK1 cells.

Phlegm-dampness constitution: genomics, susceptibility, adjustment and treatment with traditional Chinese medicine

The constitution of traditional Chinese medicine was established in 1970s by Chinese scholars, in which the constitutions of Chinese people were classified into nine types for study. The phlegm-dampness constitution is one of the nine constitutions and is the most common type in constitution study. Genomics studies found four upregulated genes: COPS8, GNPDA1, CD52 and ARPC3; and six downregulated genes: GSPT2, CACNB2, FLJ20584, UXS1, IL21R and TNPO in the phlegm-dampness constitution. Gene functional analyses on genes affecting the differences between the phlegm-dampness constitution and the balanced constitution indicated that people with phlegm-dampness constitution were susceptible to hyperlipemia and diabetes. Results of epidemiological surveys also revealed that people with phlegm-dampness constitution have a much higher risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, hypertension and diabetes than people with a balanced constitution. Therefore, differentiation of phlegm-dampness constitution could be performed in the normal population with the Constitution of Chinese Medicine Scale to estimate the risks of those diseases for prediction. For people with phlegm-dampness constitution, Chinese medicine could be used to reduce risk of related diseases. Constitution-based strategies in disease prevention and treatment are consistent with the current proposed 4P medical mode (personalized, predictive, preventive and participatory). With the rising burden of global disease and increasing medical expenditure, the objectives of medicine are transforming from treatment to prevention. Thus, studies on the phlegm-dampness constitution of traditional Chinese medicine are significantly important for the prediction and prevention of related diseases and maintenance of human health.

5,7,3′-Triacetyl Hesperetin Suppresses Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis in Rats through Modulating JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

This work was designed to identify the effect of 5,7,3′-triacetyl hesperetin (TAHP) on rat adjuvant arthritis (AA) and further clarify the possible role of TAHP on modulating Janus kinase signal transducers and activators (JAK/STAT in this process. Freund's complete adjuvant was used to induce AA in rats. TAHP (33, 66, 132 mg/kg) was administered intragastrically. Secondary paw swelling, polyarthritis index, index of immune organs and histopathological assessment were used to evaluate the effects of TAHP on AA in rats. IL-6 in serum and in synovial tissues was examined with ELISA and RT-PCR. In addition, JAK2/STAT3 pathway-related key molecules mRNA expression in synovial tissues of AA rats were detected by RT-PCR and western blot respectively. It was found that TAHP (66, 132 mg/kg) could significantly inhibit secondary paw swelling, restore the index of immune organs and reduce polyarthritis index. Results of histopathological assessment showed that TAHP clearly ameliorated the pathological changes in AA rats. TAHP could downregulate the level of IL-6 in serum and in synovial tissues of AA rats. Besides, treatment with TAHP could decrease mRNA expressions of STAT3 and JAK2, as well as the ratio of p-JAK2/JAK2 protein and p-STAT3/STAT3 protein from synovial tissues. Thus, the paper demonstrated that TAHP had a therapeutic effect on AA in rats and the mechanisms were partly associated with modulating proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 production in serum and in synovial tissues and inhibiting excessive activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway which might play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AA.

Triterpenoid-Rich Fraction from Ilex hainanensis Merr. Attenuates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by High Fat Diet in Rats

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a major challenge to the healthcare system. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of the triterpenoid-rich fraction (TF) from Ilex hainanensis Merr. on NAFLD. Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were fed a normal diet (control) or high fat diet (NAFLD model). After four weeks, the high fat diet group was orally administrated TF (250 mg/kg) for another two weeks. High fat diet fed rats displayed hyperlipidemia and a decline in liver function compared with control. However, administration with TF could effectively improve these symptoms, as demonstrated by decreasing the plasma levels of triglyceride (p <0.05), total cholesterol (p < 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05), alanine transaminase (p < 0.05), aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.01), liver index (p < 0.05) and insulin resistance index (p < 0.05) while increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, histopathological examination of livers also showed that TF could reduce the incidence of liver lesions induced by high fat diet. Furthermore, TF could alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation status indicated by the decline malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase levels (p < 0.01, both) and levels of interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (p < 0.05). In addition, immunohistochemistry showed TF evidently elevated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARα) expression (p < 0.01), while it diminished the Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) expression (p < 0.01) in liver. These results demonstrate that TF has potential ability to protect liver against NAFLD by regulating lipids metabolism and alleviating insulin resistance, inflammation and oxidative stress. This effect might be associated with regulating PPARα and CYP2E1 expression.

Quercetin treatment ameliorates inflammation and fibrosis in mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

We investigated whether quercetin protects from steatosis and limits the expression of proinflammatory and fibrogenic genes in C57BL/6J mice with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by feeding a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Quercetin (50 mg/kg) was given by oral route daily. Mice were randomly divided into 4 groups that received for 2 or 4 wk: the control diet plus vehicle, control diet plus quercetin, MCD diet plus vehicle, and MCD diet plus quercetin. At both 2 and 4 wk, feeding the MCD diet resulted in liver steatosis, inflammatory cell accumulation, oxidative stress evaluated by the concentration of TBARS, and fibrosis evidenced by the staining of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in the liver. At both 2 and 4 wk, the MCD diet induced an increase in the mRNA levels of Il6, Tnf, Ptgs2, and Hmgb1 and increased the protein concentrations of Toll-like receptor-4, c-Jun terminal kinase, and p65 NFκB subunit compared with control rats. Feeding the mice the MCD diet also triggered an increase of Col1a1, Col3a1, Plod3, Tgfb1, Smad3, Smad7, Pdgfb, Ctgf, Areg, Mmp9, and Timp1 mRNA levels. These effects were totally or partially prevented by treatment with quercetin. The data obtained suggest that attenuation of multiple profibrotic and proinflammatory gene pathways contributes to the beneficial effects of quercetin in mice with MCD diet-induced steatohepatitis.