Proteomics Unravels Emodin Causes Liver Oxidative Damage Elicited by Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Advances in the mechanism of emodin-induced hepatotoxicity

Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative and serves as an active component in various traditional Chinese herbal medicines. It is widely known for its broad pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, high doses and long-term use of emodin can also lead to liver toxicity. Nevertheless, the mechanism of emodin-induced liver toxicity remains unclear at present. This article aims to summarize the toxicological research progress on emodin, with a particular focus on elucidating the mechanisms underlying emodin-induced hepatocyte injury. By providing essential information, the study intends to facilitate further research and safe usage of emodin for researchers and clinical practitioners.

Neuroprotective, Anti-Inflammatory and Antifibrillogenic Offerings by Emodin against Alzheimer's Dementia: A Systematic Review

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is among the major causes of dementia in the elderly and exerts tremendous clinical, psychological and socio-economic constraints. Currently, there are no effective disease-modifying/retarding anti-AD agents. Emodin is a bioactive phytochemical with potent multimodal anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antifibrillogenic properties. In particular, emodin may result in significant repression of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying AD. The purpose of this review is to accumulate and summarize all the primary research data evaluating the therapeutic actions of emodin in AD pathogenesis. Methodology: The search, selection, and retrieval of pertinent primary research articles were systematically performed using a methodically designed approach. A variety of keyword combinations were employed on online scholarly web-databases. Strict preset inclusion and exclusion criteria were used to select the retrieved studies. Data from the individual studies were summarized and compiled into different sections, based upon their findings. Results: Cellular and animal research indicates that emodin exerts robust multimodal neuroprotection in AD. While emodin effectively prevents tau and amyloid-beta (Aβ) oligomerization, it also mitigates their neurotoxicity by attenuating neuroinflammatory, oxidative, and bioenergetic defects. Evidences for emodin-mediated enhancements in memory, learning, and cognition were also found in the literature. Conclusion: Emodin is a potential anti-AD dietary supplement; however, further studies are warrantied to thoroughly understand its target players and mechanisms. Moreover, human clinical data on emodin-mediated amelioration of AD phenotype is largely lacking, and must be addressed in the future. Lastly, the safety of exogenously supplemented emodin must be thoroughly evaluated.

In vivo anti-hyperuricemia and anti-gouty arthritis effects of the ethanol extract from Amomumvillosum Lour

The incidence of hyperuricemia and gout has been increasing year by year, and it is showing a younger trend. However, the first-line drugs currently used for hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis have serious side effects that limit their clinical application. Amomum villosum Lour. has been widely used in China for thousands of years as a traditional medical and edible plant, and previous screening showed that the ethanol extract of Amomum villosum Lour. could effectively inhibit the activity of xanthine oxidase. Based on this discovery, this paper had achieved in-depth mechanism research. The results showed that the ethanol extract of Amomum villosum Lour. could treat hyperuricemia by reducing the production of uric acid via inhibition of xanthine oxidase and increasing the excretion of uric acid via regulation of urate transporters. Meanwhile, the extract also showed a certain protective effect on hepatic and renal damage caused by hyperuricemia. With the formation of extensive uric acid, gouty arthritis will be induced by the deposition of monosodium urate in the joint. The extract could also relieve the inflammation by reducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, the extract deserves focused research and development as a potential medicine, health care product or supplemented food for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia and gouty arthritis.

Exploring the journey of emodin as a potential neuroprotective agent: Novel therapeutic insights with molecular mechanism of action

Emodin is an anthraquinone derivative found in the roots and bark of a variety of plants, molds, and lichens. Emodin has been used as a traditional medication for more than 2000 years and is still common in numerous herbal drugs. Emodin is plentiful in the three plant families, including Polygonaceae (Rheum, Rumex, and Polygonum spp.), Fabaceae (Cassia spp.), and Rhamnaceae (Rhamnus, Frangula, and Ventilago spp.). Emerging experimental evidences indicate that emodin confers a wide range of pharmacological activities; special focus was implemented toward neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cerebral ischemia, anxiety and depression, schizophrenia, chronic hyperglycemic peripheral neuropathy, etc. Numerous preclinical evidences were established in support of the neuroprotection of emodin. However, this review highlighted the role of emodin as a potent neurotherapeutic agent; therefore, its evidence-based functionality on neurological disorders (NDs).

Identifying Potential Mitochondrial Proteome Signatures Associated with the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in the Rat Model

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive disease that affects the heart and lungs and a global health concern that impacts individuals and society. Studies have reported that some proteins related to mitochondrial metabolic functions could play an essential role in the pathogenesis of PAH, and their specific expression and biological function are still unclear. We successfully constructed a monocrotaline- (MCT-) induced PAH rat model in the present research. Then, the label-free quantification proteomic technique was used to determine mitochondrial proteins between the PAH group (n = 6) and the normal group (n = 6). Besides, we identified 1346 mitochondrial differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between these two groups. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were used to analyze the mainly mitochondrial DEPs' biological functions and the signal pathways. Based on the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and functional enrichment, we screened 19 upregulated mitochondrial genes (Psmd1, Psmc4, Psmd13, Psmc2, etc.) and 123 downregulated mitochondrial genes (Uqcrfs1, Uqcrc1, Atp5c1, Atp5a1, Uqcrc2, etc.) in rats with PAH. Furthermore, in an independent cohort dataset and experiments with rat lung tissue using qPCR, validation results consistently showed that 6 upregulated mitochondrial genes (Psmd2, Psmc4, Psmc3, Psmc5, Psmd13, and Psmc2) and 3 downregulated mitochondrial genes (Lipe, Cat, and Prkce) were significantly differentially expressed in the lung tissue of PAH rats. Using the RNAInter database, we predict potential miRNA target hub mitochondrial genes at the transcriptome level. We also identified bortezomib and carfilzomib as the potential drugs for treatment in PAH. Finally, this study provides us with a new perspective on critical biomarkers and treatment strategies in PAH.

Therapeutic Potential of Emodin for Gastrointestinal Cancers

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers cause one-third of all cancer-related deaths worldwide. Natural compounds are emerging as alternative or adjuvant cancer therapies given their distinct advantage of manipulating multiple pathways to both suppress tumor growth and alleviate cancer comorbidities; however, concerns regarding efficacy, bioavailability, and safety are barriers to their development for clinical use. Emodin (1,3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone), a Chinese herb-derived anthraquinone, has been shown to exert anti-tumor effects in colon, liver, and pancreatic cancers. While the mechanisms underlying emodin's tumoricidal effects continue to be unearthed, recent evidence highlights a role for mitochondrial mediated apoptosis, modulated stress and inflammatory signaling pathways, and blunted angiogenesis. The goals of this review are to (1) highlight emodin's anti-cancer properties within GI cancers, (2) discuss the known anti-cancer mechanisms of action of emodin, (3) address emodin's potential as a treatment complementary to standard chemotherapeutics, (4) assess the efficacy and bioavailability of emodin derivatives as they relate to cancer, and (5) evaluate the safety of emodin.

Advances in the study of emodin: an update on pharmacological properties and mechanistic basis

Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, also known as rhubarb or Da Huang, has been widely used as a spice and as traditional herbal medicine for centuries, and is currently marketed in China as the principal herbs in various prescriptions, such as Da-Huang-Zhe-Chong pills and Da-Huang-Qing-Wei pills. Emodin, a major bioactive anthraquinone derivative extracted from rhubarb, represents multiple health benefits in the treatment of a host of diseases, such as immune-inflammatory abnormality, tumor progression, bacterial or viral infections, and metabolic syndrome. Emerging evidence has made great strides in clarifying the multi-targeting therapeutic mechanisms underlying the efficacious therapeutic potential of emodin, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, anti-fibrosis, anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties. This comprehensive review aims to provide an updated summary of recent developments on these pharmacological efficacies and molecular mechanisms of emodin, with a focus on the underlying molecular targets and signaling networks. We also reviewed recent attempts to improve the pharmacokinetic properties and biological activities of emodin by structural modification and novel material-based targeted delivery. In conclusion, emodin still has great potential to become promising therapeutic options to immune and inflammation abnormality, organ fibrosis, common malignancy, pathogenic bacteria or virus infections, and endocrine disease or disorder. Scientifically addressing concerns regarding the poor bioavailability and vague molecular targets would significantly contribute to the widespread acceptance of rhubarb not only as a dietary supplement in food flavorings and colorings but also as a health-promoting TCM in the coming years.

DHA Protects Hepatocytes from Oxidative Injury through GPR120/ERK-Mediated Mitophagy

Oxidative stress occurs in a variety of clinical liver diseases and causes cellular damage and mitochondrial dysfunction. The clearance of damaged mitochondria by mitophagy may facilitate mitochondrial biogenesis and enhance cell survival. Although the supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) has been recognized to relieve the symptoms of various liver diseases, the antioxidant effect of DHA in liver disease is still unclear. The purpose of our research was to investigate the antioxidant effect of DHA in the liver and the possible role of mitophagy in this. In vitro, H₂O₂-induced injury was caused in AML12 cells. The results showed that DHA repressed the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by H₂O₂ and stimulated the cellular antioxidation response. Most notably, DHA restored oxidative stress-impaired autophagic flux and promoted protective autophagy. In addition, PINK/Parkin-mediated mitophagy was activated by DHA in AML12 cells and alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction. The ERK1/2 signaling pathway was inhibited during oxidative stress but reactivated by DHA treatment. It was proven that the expression of ERK1/2 was involved in the regulation of mitophagy by the ERK1/2 inhibitor. We further proved these results in vivo. DHA effectively alleviated the liver oxidative damage caused by CCl₄ and enhanced antioxidation capacity; intriguingly, autophagy was also activated. In summary, our data demonstrated that DHA protected hepatocytes from oxidative damage through GPR120/ERK-mediated mitophagy.