Hepatoprotective Effect of Wheat-Based Solid-State Fermented Antrodia cinnamomea in Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Liver Injury in Rat

Therapeutic Potential of Diosgenin in Amelioration of Carbon Tetrachloride-Induced Murine Liver Injury

Diosgenin is a sapogenin with antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The current study investigated whether diosgenin could ameliorate carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced liver injury. To cause liver injury, CCL4 was injected intraperitoneally twice a week for 8 weeks. Daily oral administration of diosgenin at doses of 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg was started one day before CCL4 injection and continued for 8 weeks. Finally, serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and also albumin were assessed. Catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in addition to glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also quantified in the liver homogenate and routine histological evaluation was also conducted. Elevated serum levels of liver enzymes and decreased serum level of albumin caused by CCL4 were significantly restored following diosgenin administration at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg. Long-term administration of CCL4 increased inflammatory and apoptotic factors such as IL-1β, caspase 3, TNF-α, and IL-6 and decreased SOD and catalase activities as well as GSH level in liver homogenates; while MDA level was increased. Treatment with diosgenin increased SOD and catalase activities and GSH levels in the liver of injured animals. In addition, liver MDA, IL-1β, caspase 3, TNF-α, and IL-6 level or activity decreased by diosgenin treatment. Additionally, diosgenin aptly prevented aberrant liver histological changes. According to obtained results, diosgenin can dose-dependently diminish CCl4-induced liver functional deficits and histological changes in a dose-dependent manner, possibly due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties, and its beneficial effect is comparable to known hepatoprotective agent silymarin.

Fermented Taiwanofungus camphoratus Extract Ameliorates Psoriasis-Associated Response in HaCaT Cells via Modulating NF-𝜅B and mTOR Pathways

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease, and until now, it remains an incurable disease. Therefore, the development of new drugs or agents that ameliorate the disease will have marketing potential. Taiwanofungus camphoratus (TC) is a specific fungus in Taiwan. It is demonstrated to have anticancer, anti-inflammation, and hepatoprotective effects. However, the effects of TC fermented extract on psoriasis are under investigation. In this research, we studied the ability of TC on antioxidative activity and the efficacy of TC on interleukin-17 (IL-17A)-induced intracellular oxidative stress, inflammation-relative, and proliferation-relative protein expression in human keratinocytes. The results of a DPPH radical scavenging assay, reducing power assay, and hydroxyl peroxide inhibition assay indicated that TC has a potent antioxidant ability. Furthermore, TC could reduce IL-17A-induced intracellular ROS generation and restore the NADPH level. In the investigation of pathogenesis, we discovered TC could regulate inflammatory and cell proliferation pathways via p-IKKα/p-p65 and p-mTOR/p-p70S6k signaling pathways in human keratinocytes. In conclusion, TC showed characteristics such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-psoriatic-associated responses. It is expected to be developed as a candidate for oxidative-stress-induced skin disorders or psoriasis treatment.

Effect of Dietary Blue-Green Microalgae Inclusion as a Replacement to Soybean Meal on Laying Hens' Performance, Egg Quality, Plasma Metabolites, and Hematology

Spirulina platensisis (SP) is a blue-green microalgae with a high value for animal and poultry nutrition. The study employed 250 40-week-old, HY-Line W-36 commercial laying hens. The layers received one of five experimental diet substitutes in five groups for 10 consecutive weeks (five replicates of 10 hens each group); a soybean-corn basal diet formulation without SP (Control group) or the soybean partially substituted with 3% SP, 6% SP, 9% SP, and 12% SP (for the remaining four groups). The results showed that dietary SP treatment significantly (p < 0.05) improved the productive performance, egg quality, blood metabolites, and hematological parameters of laying hens. In addition, there were linear and quadratic effects for increasing the levels of SP inclusion into the layer diets; however, the highest values of most parameters were observed when using 9% SP (90 g/kg of the layer diets). Furthermore, the results showed that 4.7% of the soybean meal ingredient in the layer diet could be replaced by 1% of SP. In conclusion, the partial replacement of soybean meal by SP into layer diets could be used as a promising nutritional approach to optimize the performance of laying hens.

Nano Modification of Antrodia Cinnamomea Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Action and Improves the Migratory Potential of Myogenic Progenitors

The skeletal muscle progenitors’ proliferation and migration are crucial stages of myogenesis. Identifying drug candidates that contribute to myogenesis can have a positive impact on atrophying muscle. The purpose of the study is to synthesize the Antrodia cinnamomea (AC)-β-cyclodextrin (BCD) inclusion complex (IC) and understand its in vitro pro-regenerative influence in murine skeletal C2C12 myoblasts. The IC was subjected to various nano-characterization studies. Fluorescent IC was synthesized to understand the cellular uptake of IC. Furthermore, 25 µg/mL, 12.5 µg/mL, and 6.25 µg/mL of IC were tested on murine C2C12 skeletal muscle cells for their anti-inflammatory, pro-migratory, and pro-proliferative action. The cellular internalization of IC occurred rapidly via pinocytosis. IC (252.6 ± 3.2 nm size and −37.24 ± 1.55 surface charge) exhibited anti-inflammatory action by suppressing the secretion of interleukin-6 and enhanced cell proliferation with promising cytocompatibility. A 12.5 μg/mL dose of IC promoted cell migration in 24 h, but the same dose of AC significantly reduced cell migration, suggesting modification by BCD. Molecular studies revealed that IC promoted C2C12 myoblasts migration by upregulating long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT-1, SYISL, and activating the pPKC/β-catenin pathway. Our study is the first report on the pro-proliferative and pro-migratory effects of BCD-modified extracts of AC.

A Review on Hepatoprotective Effects of Some Medicinal Plant Oils

Background:

The liver is the second largest organ inside the human body. It can be damaged by several toxic molecules and medicinal agents taken in overdoses. Indeed, there are some oils obtained from different herbs that can be used to protect the liver injury.

Objective:

This review aims to give details on some oils that have been tested for their hepatoprotective effect.

Methods:

We reviewed 79 articles published between 1980 and 2019 in English language using three databases Sciencedirect, Web of Science and PubMed. So, we have used the keywords related to hepatoprotective activity: Hepatoprotective, liver disease, plant and oil and we have classified the plants in alphabetical order as a list containing their scientific and family names, as well as the experimental assay and the results obtained from these studies.

Results:

As a result, we have described 18 species belonging to 18 families: Altingiaceae, Apiaceae, Arecaceae, Asteraceae, Cactaceae, Caryocaraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Lauraceae, Leguminoseae, Malvaceae, Moringaceae, Myrtaceae, Oleaceae, Pinaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, Theaceae and Vitaceae. Among the most common fatty acids present in hepatoprotective oils are palmitic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid.

Conclusion:

These oils have shown beneficial properties regarding the hepatoprotective activity.

A Pilot Study to Assess Food Safety and Potential Cholesterol-Lowering Efficacy of Antrodia cinnamomea Solid-State Cultivated Mycelium in Healthy Adults

Antrodia cinnamomea is a Taiwanese medicinal mushroom with multiple pharmacological activities. Antrodia cinnamomea solid-state cultivated mycelium (LAC) exerts health-related effects in animal and cell models, but clinical data is limited. This study aimed to determine the safety and effects of LAC on human physiological functions. In an open-label, single-arm study, 32 healthy men and women ingested LAC capsules for three months. The subjects were monitored during the study and one month after the study end-point. LAC consumption did not significantly change fasting blood glucose, blood pressure, and triglyceride levels or liver and renal function indices. No adverse events occurred during the trial. Moreover, a significant change from baseline in total cholesterol levels was observed; men and women had decreases of 5.7% and 5.3%, respectively. Based on these, the ingestion of LAC-capsule has a considerable degree of safety and has the potential to reduce total cholesterol in healthy adults.

Combination of cut-log cultivated fruiting body and solid-state cultured mycelia of Taiwanofungus camphoratus ameliorates CCl4-induced liver injury in rats

Taiwanofungus camphoratus, a medicinal mushroom indigenous to Taiwan, possesses various pharmacological functions. The most recognized ethnopharmacological relevance of T. camphoratus is hepatoprotection since it was traditionally used for treating liver disorders by Taiwan aborigines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of the combination of fruiting body and solid-state cultured mycelia of T. camphoratus (LDAC) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced chronic liver damage in rats. We treated Wistar rats daily with low, medium and high [87.5, 175 and 437.5 mg/kg body weight (bw), respectively] doses of LDAC for 9 weeks. After the first week of treatment, rats were administered 20% CCl₄ (0.5 mL/0.3 kg bw) twice a week to induce liver damage until the treatment ended. The results showed that administration of LDAC by oral gavage significantly reduced the absolute weight of the liver and the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in CCl₄-treated rats_. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GRd) and catalase (CAT) were increased by LDAC treatment. Moreover, LDAC improved CCl₄-induced hepatic vacuolization, necrosis and fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, and no adverse effects were observed in the LDAC-treated groups. Based on the results, LDAC is a promising hepatoprotective agent for preventing and ameliorating CCl₄-induced chronic liver injury, and this effect might be exerted through activation of the antioxidant defense system.

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Combining cut-log fruiting body and solid-state mycelia of T. camphoratus is an efficient production.

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The HPLC fingerprint shows the index compounds in the combination (LDAC).

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LDAC decreases serum ALT and AST levels and elevates antioxidant activity in CCl₄-treated rats.

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LDAC dramatically improves rat hepatic necrosis and fibrosis induced by CCl₄.

Antrodia cinnamomea-An updated minireview of its bioactive components and biological activity

Antrodia cinnamomea or Antrodia camphorata is a distinctive mushroom of Taiwan, which is being used as a traditional medicine to treat various health-related conditions. More than 78 compounds have been identified in A. cinnamomea. Large numbers of phytochemical studies have been carried out in A. cinnamomea due to the high amount of terpenoids. Besides that, the extracts and active components of A. cinnamomea were reported to have various biological activities including hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and immunomodulatory activities. In this review article, we have summarized the recent findings of A. cinnamomea and its molecular mechanisms of action in various disease models. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: A. cinnamomea, medicinal fungus used in traditional medicine in Taiwan also possess high market value. Aim of the present review is to highlight the compounds present in A. cinnamomea and their different pharmacological activities in preventing/cure various diseases/disorders. A. cinnamomea can be potentially developed into health foods or drugs.

Protective Effect of Antrodia cinnamomea Extract against Irradiation-Induced Acute Hepatitis

Radiotherapy for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma causes severe side effects, including acute hepatitis and chronic fibrosis. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has emerged as an important part of integrative medicine in the management of diseases. Antrodia cinnamomea (AC), a valuable medicinal fungus originally found only in Taiwan, has been shown to possess anti-oxidation, vaso-relaxtation, anti-inflammation, anti-hepatitis, and anti-cancer effects. In this paper we evaluate the protective effects of ethanol extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (ACE) against radiotoxicity both in normal liver cell line CL48 and in tumor-bearing mice. In CL48, ACE protects cells by eliminating irradiation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the induction of Nrf2 and the downstream redox system enzymes. The protective effect of ACE was also demonstrated in tumor-bearing mice by alleviating irradiation-induced acute hepatitis. ACE could also protect mice from CCl₄-induced hepatitis. Since both radiation and CCl₄ cause free radicals, these results indicate that ACE likely contains active components that protect normal liver cells from free radical attack and can potentially benefit hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients during radiotherapy.

Structural characterization and anti-inflammatory effect in hepatocytes of a galactoglucan from Antrodia camphorata mycelium

The galactoglucan ACP2 was isolated from cultured Antrodia camphorata mycelium through anion-exchange column chromatography and Sephadex G-100 chromatography and shown to exhibit hepatoprotective function in L02 cells. Based on monosaccharide composition analysis, ACP2 was mainly composed of glucose, galactose, and 6-deoxyglucose in a molar ratio of 5 : 2 : 1. The average molecular weight of ACP2 was 1.93 × 10⁴ Da. The primary structure of ACP2 was elucidated with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicated the following composition: →6)-linked-β-d-Galp-(1→, →6)-linked-α-d-Glcp-(1→, →3)-linked-α-d-Glcp-(1→, and →2,4)-linked-β-d-Glcp-(1→, with terminal 6-deoxy-α-d-Glcp and α-d-Glcp. ACP2 alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatocyte inflammation by down-regulating the expressions of COX-2, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6. The decreased expressions of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, and phosphorylated p38 in ACP2-treated L02 cells indicated that ACP2 might ameliorate inflammation through the TLR4 and p38/NF-κB signaling pathways.

A previously undescribed polysaccharide ACP2 was isolated from Antrodia camphorata mycelium. ACP2 ameliorated hepatocyte inflammation through TLR4 and p38/NF-κB signal pathway.

Antrodia cinnamomea boosts the anti-tumor activity of sorafenib in xenograft models of human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been recognized worldwide as one of the major causes of cancer death. The medicinal fungus Antrodia cinnamomea (A. cinnamomea) has been served as a functional food for liver protection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential activity of A. cinnamomea extracts as a safe booster for the anticancer activity of sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of HCC. The biologically active triterpenoids in the ethanolic extracts of A. cinnamomea (EAC) were initially identified by HPLC/LC/MS then the different extracts and sorafenib were assessed in vitro and in vivo. EAC could effectively sensitize HCC cells to low doses of sorafenib, which was perceived via the ability of the combination to repress cell viability and to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells. The ability of EAC to enhance sorafenib activity was mediated through targeting mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, modulating cyclin proteins expression and inhibiting cancer cell invasion. Moreover, the proposed combination significantly suppressed ectopic tumor growth in mice with high safety margins compared to single-agent treatment. Thus, this study highlights the advantage of combining EAC with sorafenib as a potential adjuvant therapeutic strategy against HCC.

Amelioration of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury by emulsified Antrodia extract

Objective(s):

Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) is found with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory biological activities. In this study, we investigated the anti-hepatitis effect of the emulsified AC extract from RO water or supercritical fluid CO₂ with ethanol co-solvent extract methods of AC preparations.

Materials and Methods:

Five groups of eight to ten weeks male rats with a count of ten for each group were studied to evaluate the protection of two kinds of AC extract from hepatic injury. Acute liver injury of rats was induced by injecting 40% carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) 1 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Positive and negative control groups rats were perfused with CCl₄ or isotonic saline, respectively. Experimental groups received oral administration once/day of AC preparations before CCl₄ treatment: water AC extract (WAE group), or emulsified AC extract from supercritical fluid extraction (EAE group) for 5 days, and sacrificed on the 6^th day and the blood and liver samples were collected under chloral hydrate anesthesia. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant markers, and relevant signaling pathways were measured (AST, ALT, ROS, IL-1, IL-6, NO, and COX-2, MAPKs, and caspase-3).

Results:

EAE at 50 mg/kg significantly decreased the serum AST, ALT, IL-1, IL-6, NO, and ROS levels. Both extracts reduced the activation of p-ERK in the liver samples, but EAE inhibited COX-2 and caspase-3 protein expression better than WAE. The EAE ameliorated CCl₄-induced hepatic injury significantly; as compared with WAE and the positive control.

Conclusion:

The hepatoprotection of EAE could be attributed to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Antrodia.

Meroterpenoids from a Medicinal Fungus Antrodia cinnamomea

Antrodia cinnamomea, a medicinal fungus indigenous to Taiwan, has been shown to exhibit a broad spectrum of bioactivities for the treatments of alcoholic intoxication, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fatigue, and a number of active principles have been identified. Among the bioactive entities, clinical trials of antroquinonol and 4-acetyl antroquinonol B are being carried out for curing cancer, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperlipidemia. The total synthesis of antroquinonol has been achieved; however, investigating the structure-activity relationship of this class of compounds remained difficult due to the lack of available analogues. Twenty antroquinonols isolated from A. cinnamomea IFS006 are reported herein. Their structures were elucidated using spectral analysis and by comparison with literature values. Of these, 11 antroquinonol analogues, namely, antroquinonols N-X (1-11), were previously unreported. The growth inhibitory activity of all the antroquinonol analogues was evaluated against human A549 and PC-3 cancer cell lines, and antroquinonol A exhibited the most potent activity, with GI₅₀ values of 5.7 ± 0.2 and 13.5 ± 0.2 μM, respectively. Antroquinonols V (9) and W (10) also showed growth inhibitory activity against A549 cells with GI₅₀ values of 8.2 ± 0.8 and 7.1 ± 2.1 μM, respectively, compared to 5-fluorouracil (GI₅₀ = 4.2 ± 0.2 μM).

2-Hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoic acid attenuates the carbon tetra chloride-induced hepatotoxicity and its lipid abnormalities in rats via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanism

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Liver inflammation stimulates various inflammatory cytokines and initiates injury through oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to curtaile the liver injury through natural principles such as 2-hydroxy-4-methoxy benzoic acid (HMBA).

METHODS

The current study examines the hepatoprotective and lipid lowering effect of HMBA against carbon tetra chloride (CCl₄)-mediated liver toxicity in male Wistar rats.

RESULTS

The hepatoprotective effects of HMBA against CCl₄-induced liver damage, were evident from low serum transaminases activities, reduced hepatic lipid peroxidation and collagen content, restoration of total glutathione, and recouping of the inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10, and IL-6 levels. Further it was found that the treatment of HMBA, significantly lowered (P<0.01) the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids and phospholipids in serum and liver. To investigate the mechanism behind the hepatoprotective and lipid lowering effect, the activities of heme oxygenase (HO1), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured and expression levels were quantified through western blot following HMBA administration. The results showed that HMBA administration significantly decreased the activity of HO1 (P<0.001), and increased the activity of MPO (P<0.001); further similar finding was observed in western analysis. The hepatoprotective, lipid lowering and shifting key defensive enzyme activities are similar to that of standard drug such as N-acetylcysteine.

CONCLUSION

HMBA is competent of shielding liver from CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity, and this is associated with the lipid lowering, inflammatory cytokine restoration and induction of defensive enzyme activities.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Antrodia cinnamomea: The Modulation of Oxidative Stress Signaling in a Mouse Model of Alcohol-Induced Acute Liver Injury

In the present study, the components of A. cinnamomea (AC) mycelia were systematically analyzed. Subsequently, its hepatoprotective effects and the underlying mechanisms were explored using a mouse model of acute alcohol-induced liver injury. AC contained 25 types of fatty acid, 16 types of amino acid, 3 types of nucleotide, and 8 types of mineral. The hepatoprotective effects were observed after 2 weeks of AC treatment at doses of 75 mg/kg, 225 mg/kg, and 675 mg/kg in the mouse model. These effects were indicated by the changes in the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, several oxidation-related factors, and inflammatory cytokines in serum and/or liver samples. AC reduced the incidence rate of necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, fatty droplets formation, and cell apoptosis in liver detecting via histological and TUNEL assay. In addition, AC reduced the expression of cleaved caspase-3, -8, and -9 and the levels of phosphor-protein kinase B (Akt) and phosphor-nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the liver samples. Collectively, AC-mediated hepatoprotective effects in a mouse model of acute alcohol-induced liver injury are the result of reduction in oxidative stress. This may be associated with Akt/NF-κB signaling. These results provide valuable evidence to support the use of A. cinnamomea as a functional food and/or medicine.

Dicranostiga leptopodu (Maxim.) Fedde extracts attenuated CCl4-induced acute liver damage in mice through increasing anti-oxidative enzyme activity to improve mitochondrial function

Dicranostiga Leptodu (Maxim.) fedde (DLF), a poppy plant, has been reported have many benefits and medicinal properties, including free radicals scavenging and detoxifying. However, the protective effect of DLF extracts against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced damage in mice liver has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that DLF extracts attenuated CCl₄-induced liver damage in mice through increasing anti-oxidative enzyme activity to improve mitochondrial function. In this study, the mice liver damage evoked by CCl₄ was marked by morphology changes, significant rise in lipid peroxidation, as well as alterations of mitochondrial respiratory function. Interestingly, pretreatment with DLF extracts attenuated CCl₄-induced morphological damage and increasing of lipid peroxidation in mice liver. Additionally, DLF extracts improved mitochondrial function by preventing the disruption of respiratory chain and suppression of mitochondrial Na⁺K⁺-ATPase and Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. Furthermore, administration with DLF extracts elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels and maintained the balance of redox status. This results showed that toxic protection effect of DLF extracts on mice liver is mediated by improving mitochondrial respiratory function and keeping the balance of redox status, which suggesting that DLF extracts could be used as potential toxic protection agent for the liver against hepatotoxic agent.