Panax Ginseng alleviates thioacetamide-induced liver injury in ovariectomized rats: Crosstalk between inflammation and oxidative stress

The beneficial potential of ginseng for menopause

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) has long been used not only as a food supplement but also as a treatment for various diseases. Ginseng originated in South Korea, which later spread to China and Japan, has a wide range of pharmacological activities including immune, endocrine, cardiovascular, and central nervous system effects. KRG is produced by repetitions of steaming and drying of ginseng to extend preservation. During this steaming process, the components of ginseng undergo physio-chemical changes forming a variety of potential active constituents including ginsenoside-Rg3, a unique compound in KRG. Pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has affected both men and women differentially. In particular, women were more vulnerable to COVID-related distress which in turn could aggravate menopause-related disturbances. Complementary and alternative medicinal plants could have aided middle-aged women for several menopause-related symptoms during and post COVID-19 pandemic. This review aimed to explore the beneficial effects of KRG on menopausal symptoms and gynecological cancer.

Pylorus ligation-induced hyperacidity: synergistic prophylactic effects of linagliptin and L-arginine via up-regulation of EP4 receptor subtype and improvement of vascular endothelial damage

Gastric hyperacidity and ulceration are chronic diseases characterized by repeated healing followed by re-exacerbation. The study aims to protect against gastric hyperacidity without interfering with gastric acid secretion. Pylorus ligation-induced hyperacidity is commonly utilized in the induction of gastric ulcers.Forty-two rats were distributed into seven groups (n = 6). Group I comprised sham-operated group. Group II served as pylorus-ligation group. Groups III-VII were given oral Linagliptin (LN; 3 and 6 mg/kg), L-arginine (LA; 150 and 300 mg/kg) and their combination (LN 3 + LA 150 mg/kg), respectively for 7 days. On the 8th day, groups II-VII were subjected to pylorus-ligation.Treatment of pylorus-ligated rats with LN, LA and their combination improved the gastric hyperacidity as exhibited by a marked reduction in the gastric juice volume, total and free acidities and pepsin contents with a noticeable increase in pH. Pre-treatment with LN, LA and their combination showed a marked alleviation in the gastric inflammatory indicators evidenced by reduction in the gastric levels of MCP-1and Il-1β as well as elevation of eNOS levels versus the sham-operated group. A marked up-regulation in the gastric gene expression of PGE, EP4 and VEGF accompanied by an improvement of the histopathologic pictures/scores, and TNF-α and caspase-3 immuno-staining were also recorded.By estimating the combination-index, it can be concluded that combining LN with LA exhibited prophylactic synergistic effects in ameliorating pylorus ligated-induced hyperacidity, mainly via up-regulation of EP4 receptor and improvement of vascular endothelial damage through VEGF expression in gastric mucosa.

Ginsenoside Rg1 alleviates ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury by inhibiting hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress via SIRT1 activation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey) is a common traditional Chinese medicine used for anti-inflammation, treating colitis, type 2 diabetes, diarrhea, and recovering hepatobiliary function. Ginsenosides, the main active components isolated from ginseng, possess liver and gallbladder diseases therapeutic potential.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

Cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is a liver disease induced by intrahepatic accumulation of toxic bile acids and currently lacks clinically effective drugs. Our previous study found that ginsenosides alleviated CLI by activating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), but the effective ingredients and the underlying mechanism have not been clarified. This study aimed to identify an effective ingredient with the most significant activation effect on SIRT1 from the five major monomer saponins of ginsenosides: Rb1, Rd, Rg1, 20s-Rg3, and Rc further explore its protective effects on CLI, and elaborate its underlying mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Discovery Studio 3.0 was used to conduct molecular docking between monomer saponins and SIRT1, and further detect the influence of monomer saponins on SIRT1 activity in vitro. Finally, it was determined that Rg1 had the most significant stimulative effect on SIRT1, and the hepatoprotective activity of Rg1 in CLI was explored in vivo. Wild-type mice were intragastrically α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) to establish an experimental model of intrahepatic cholestasis and Rg1 intervention, and then liver injury and cholestasis related indexes were detected. In addition, Liver-specific SIRT1 gene knockout (SIRT1-/-) mice were administered with ANIT and/or Rg1 to further investigate the mechanism of action of Rg1.

RESULTS

The results of molecular docking and in vitro experiments showed that all the five ginsenoside monomers could bind to the active site of SIRT1 and promote SIRT1 activity in HepG2 cells. Among them, Rg1 exhibited the most significant stimulation of SIRT1 activity in cholestasis. Besides, it could ameliorate ANIT-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Therefore, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of Rg1 on CLI. Results showed that Rg1 reversed the ANIT-induced increase in biochemical parameters, improved liver pathological injury, and decreased liver lipid accumulation, reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory factor levels. Mechanistically, Rg1 induced SIRT1 expression, followed by promoted the activity of Nrf2 and suppressed the activation of NF-κB. Interestingly, the hepatoprotective effect of Rg1 was blocked in SIRT1-/- mice.

CONCLUSION

Rg1 mitigated ANIT-induced CLI via upregulating SIRT1 expression, and our results suggested that Rg1 is a candidate compound for treating CLI.

Meclizine moderates lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation in mice through the regulation of AKT/ NF-κβ/ERK/JNK signaling pathway

Neuroinflammation is identified as significant inflammatory reactions occurring in the central nervous system. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates innate immune reactions and is used as an in vivo animal model for the investigation of inflammation. Meclizine (MCLZ) is a histamine antagonist with potential neuroprotective qualities. Forty adult male Swiss albino mice were divided into four groups (n = 10). Group 1 served as a control negative group. Groups 2-4 were injected with LPS (5 mg/kg; i.p). Group 2 served as LPS-control. Groups 3 & 4 were given MCLZ (12.5 & 25 mg/kg; p.o) respectively for 14 days. LPS administration resulted in significant neuroinflammation in mice as was revealed by significant inflammatory histopathological changes and positive immunohistochemical staining of glial fibrillary acidic proteins (GFAP) accompanied by significant elevations of brain tissue contents of interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), nuclear factor kappa-beta (NF-κβ), protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and C-Jun N-Terminal Kinases (JNK). MCLZ treatment significantly down-regulated all the aforementioned parameters in mice brains. Moreover, MCLZ treatment ameliorated the inflammatory histopathological changes and GFAP immunostaining in brain tissues. The current study identifies for the first time the protective anti-neuroinflammatory effects of MCLZ against LPS-induced neuroinflammation in mice. MCLZ protected against neuroinflammation via the amelioration of inflammatory histopathological changes as well as neuronal GFAP immunostaining and down-regulated the AKT/NF-κβ/ERK/JNK signaling pathway. MCLZ is anticipated as a potential protective candidate for the addition to the treatment protocol of neuroinflammation.

Protective effects of royal jelly and Echinacea against moxifloxacin-induced renal and hepatic injury in rats

Antibiotic use, especially fluoroquinolones, has been linked to extensive renal and hepatic injury thus inflicts a considerable health problem. Fifty rats were allocated into five groups (n = 10). Group 1 represented the normal-control group. Group 2 received moxifloxacin only (MOX; 8 mg/kg/day, i.p.) for seven days and represented the MOX-control group. Groups 3, 4, and 5 received MOX for seven days accompanied by royal jelly (RJ; 100 mg/kg/day, p.o.), Echinacea (ECH; 40 mg/kg/day, p.o.), and a combination of both at the aforementioned doses respectively for 30 days. All groups were investigated for renal and hepatic function tests. Renal tissue content of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) along with renal and hepatic tissue contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were assessed for all groups. Histopathological examination was performed followed by immunohistochemical staining for caspase-3 in renal and hepatic tissues. MOX administration resulted in significant renal and hepatic damage. RJ and ECH significantly improved the serum parameters of renal and hepatic functions along with increasing GSH and decreasing MDA in renal and hepatic tissues. Renal contents of KIM-1 were also reduced. Moreover, RJ, ECH, and their combination amended MOX-induced histopathological changes and significantly reduced caspase-3 immunohistochemical staining in both renal and hepatic tissues. The current study is the first to elucidate the effect of RJ, ECH, and their combination against MOX-induced renal and hepatic injury in rats. The study suggests that these protective effects are mainly via the reduction of oxidative stress induced by MOX administration.

Panax ginseng ameliorates hepatorenal oxidative alterations induced by commercially used cypermethrin in male rats: experimental and molecular docking approaches

Cypermethrin (CYP) is a synthetic pyrethroid utilized as an insecticide in agriculture and various pest eradication programs. However, it induces numerous health hazards for animals and humans. Therefore, the current study used Panax ginseng root extract (ginseng) to reduce the hepatorenal damage caused by commercially used CYP. Thirty-two male Wistar albino rats were distributed into control, ginseng (300 mg/kg B.W/day), CYP (4.67 mg/kg B.W.), and Ginseng+CYP (rats received both CYP and ginseng). All treatments were administered orally for 30 consecutive days. Cypermethrin induced harmful effects on hepatic and renal tissues through a substantial decline in body weight in addition to a considerable increase in liver enzymes, functional renal markers, and cholesterol. Also, CYP significantly decreased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). Moreover, a marked increase in malondialdehyde level with a significant drop in reduced glutathione level and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities was reported in the CYP group in kidney and liver tissues. Additionally, CYP exhibited affinities to bind and inhibit AChE and antioxidant enzymes (T-SOD and CAT) in rats following the molecular docking modeling. The apparent hepatorenal oxidative damage was linked with obvious impairments in the liver and kidney histoarchitecture, immunohistochemical staining of B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and caspase-3 proteins. Ginseng reduced CYP's oxidative alterations by repairing the metabolic functional markers, improving antioxidant status, reducing the inflammatory response, and enhancing the molecular docking evaluation. It also ameliorated the intensity of the histopathological alterations and improved the immunohistochemical staining of Bcl-2 and caspase-3 proteins in the liver and kidney tissues. Finally, concomitant oral administration of ginseng mitigated CYP-prompted hepatorenal damage through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic potentials.

Molecular mechanisms in thioacetamide-induced acute and chronic liver injury models

Thioacetamide (TAA) undergoes bioactivation in the liver by the CYP450 2E1 enzyme, resulting in the formation of TAA-S-oxide and TAA-S-dioxide. TAA-S-dioxide induces oxidative stress via lipid peroxidation of the hepatocellular membrane. A single TAA dose (50-300 mg/kg) administration initiates hepatocellular necrosis around the pericentral region after its covalent binding to macromolecules in the liver. Intermittent TAA administration (150-300 mg/kg, weekly thrice, for 11-16 weeks) activates transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/smad3 downstream signaling in injured hepatocytes, causing hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to acquire myofibroblast like phenotype. The activated HSCs synthesize a variety of extracellular matrix, leading to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and portal hypertension. The TAA induced liver injury varies depending on the animal model, dosage, frequency, and routes of administration. However, TAA induces hepatotoxicity in a reproducible manner, and it is an ideal model to evaluate the antioxidant, cytoprotective, and antifibrotic compounds in experimental animals.

Eplerenone modulates the inflammatory response in monosodium iodoacetate-induced knee osteoarthritis in rats: Involvement of RANKL/OPG axis

AIMS

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial degenerative disease marked by the progressive deterioration of articular cartilage with inflammation of the synovium. OA's main symptoms include pain and function loss. Monosodium Iodoacetate (MIA) experimental model is widely-used for OS induction since it produces symptoms comparable to those occurring in humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups (n = 8). The 1st group received saline and included the normal-control rats. Groups 2-4 received intra-articular injections of MIA (3 mg/50 μL) in the rats' knee joints to induce OA. Group 2 included the MIA-control rats. Groups 3 and 4 received intra-articular MIA followed by a 14-day oral eplerenone (50 and 100 mg/kg); respectively.

KEY FINDINGS

Intra-articular injection of MIA in rats' knee joints caused significant inflammation and pain, elevation of Akt and ERK gene expression in knee joints along with significant alterations in the histological pictures of knee joints and OARSI scores. RANKL/OPG Axis was significantly disrupted.

SIGNIFICANCE

Eplerenone treatment produced a significant improvement in motor coordination and spontaneous locomotor activity in rats and modulated the key inflammatory mediators in OA (TNF-α, NF-κβ, and IL-6). Eplerenone also suppressed the qRT-PCR gene expression of Akt and ERK in knee joint tissues and improved the histological pictures and OARSI scores of knee joints of treated rats. Eplerenone caused a decline in RANKL concentration accompanied by a rise in OPG concentration thus modulating the RANKL/OPG Axis. Consequently, eplerenone is a candidate for OA therapy due to its potential anti-inflammatory effects.

Screening of Potential α-Glucosidase Inhibitors from the Roots and Rhizomes of Panax Ginseng by Affinity Ultrafiltration Screening Coupled with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS Method

Panax ginseng was a traditional Chinese medicine with various pharmacological activities and one of its important activities was hypoglycemic activity; therefore, panax ginseng has been used in China as an adjuvant in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. In vivo and in vitro tests have revealed that ginsenosides, which are derived from the roots and rhizomes of panax ginseng have anti-diabetic effects and produce different hypoglycemic mechanisms by acting on some specific molecular targets, such as SGLT1, GLP-1, GLUTs, AMPK, and FOXO1. α-Glucosidase is another important hypoglycemic molecular target, and its inhibitors can inhibit the activity of α-Glucosidase so as to delay the absorption of dietary carbohydrates and finally reduce postprandial blood sugar. However, whether ginsenosides have the hypoglycemic mechanism of inhibiting α-Glucosidase activity, and which ginsenosides exactly attribute to the inhibitory effect as well as the inhibition degree are not clear, which needs to be addressed and systematically studied. To solve this problem, affinity ultrafiltration screening coupled with UPLC-ESI-Orbitrap-MS technology was used to systematically select α-Glucosidase inhibitors from panax ginseng. The ligands were selected through our established effective data process workflow based on systematically analyzing all compounds in the sample and control specimens. As a result, a total of 24 α-Glucosidase inhibitors were selected from panax ginseng, and it was the first time that ginsenosides were systematically studied for the inhibition of α-Glucosidase. Meanwhile, our study revealed that inhibiting α-Glucosidase activity probably was another important mechanism for ginsenosides treating diabetes mellitus. In addition, our established data process workflow can be used to select the active ligands from other natural products using affinity ultrafiltration screening.

Hepatoprotective potential of a novel quinazoline derivative in thioacetamide-induced liver toxicity

Purpose: The compound quinazoline Q-Br, 3-(5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzylideneamino)-2-(5-bromo-2 hydroxyphenyl) 2,3-dihydroquinazoline-4(1H)-one (Q-Br) was evaluated for its antioxidant capacity and potential hepatoprotectivity against sub-chronic liver toxicity induced by thioacetamide in rats.

Materials and Methods: Rats were assigned into five groups; healthy (normal) and cirrhosis control groups were given 5% Tween 20 orally, the reference control group was given a Silymarin dose of 50 mg/kg, and low-dose Q-Br and high-dose Q-Br groups were given a daily dose of 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/g Q-Br, respectively. Liver status was detected via fluorescence imaging with intravenous injection of indocyanine green (ICG) and a plasma ICG clearance test. Liver malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also tested. The degree of fibrosis was determined histologically by hematoxylin and eosin and Masson’s Trichrome staining. The immunohistochemistry of liver tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-2), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was performed.

Results: Q-Br recorded mild antioxidant capacity, dose-dependent improvement in the liver status, and inhibition of oxidative stress compared to cirrhosis control. Histopathology notified a remarkable reduction in the degree of fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry revealed an obvious low expression of MMP-2 and α-SMA along with a higher expression of TIMP-1 in Q-Br- and Silymarin-treated livers.

Conclusion: Q-Br treatment altered the course of toxicity induced by thioacetamide suggesting significant hepatoprotective potential of Q-Br treatment.

Ginseng® Alleviates Malathion-Induced Hepatorenal Injury through Modulation of the Biochemical, Antioxidant, Anti-Apoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Markers in Male Rats

This study aims to see if Ginseng^® can reduce the hepatorenal damage caused by malathion. Four groups of forty male Wistar albino rats were alienated. Group 1 was a control group that got orally supplied corn oil (vehicle). Group 2 was intoxicated by malathion dissolved in corn oil orally at 135 mg/kg/day. Group 3 orally received both malathion + Panax Ginseng^® (300 mg/kg/day). Group 4 was orally given Panax Ginseng^® at a 300 mg/kg/day dose. Treatments were administered daily and continued for up to 30 consecutive days. Malathion's toxic effect on both hepatic and renal tissues was revealed by a considerable loss in body weight and biochemically by a marked increase in liver enzymes, LDH, ACP, cholesterol, and functional renal markers with a marked decrease in serum TP, albumin, and TG levels with decreased AchE and Paraoxonase activity. Additionally, malondialdehydes, nitric oxide (nitrite), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, and TNFα with a significant drop in the antioxidant activities were reported in the malathion group. Malathion upregulated the inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic genes, while Nrf2, Bcl2, and HO-1 were downregulated. Ginseng^® and malathion co-treatment reduced malathion's harmful effects by restoring metabolic indicators, enhancing antioxidant pursuit, lowering the inflammatory reaction, and alleviating pathological alterations. So, Ginseng^® may have protective effects against hepatic and renal malathion-induced toxicity on biochemical, antioxidant, molecular, and cell levels.