Hepatoprotective Effect of Ugonin M, A Helminthostachyszeylanica Constituent, on Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

The traditional utilization, biological activity and chemical composition of edible fern species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ferns form an important part of the human diet. Young fern fiddleheads are mostly consumed as vegetables, while the rhizomes are often extracted for starch. These edible ferns are also often employed in traditional medicine, where all parts of the plant are used, mostly to prepare extracts. These extracts are applied either externally as lotions and baths or internally as potions, decoctions and teas. Ailments traditionally treated with ferns include coughs, colds, fevers, pain, burns and wounds, asthma, rheumatism, diarrhoea, or skin diseases (eczema, rashes, itching, leprosy).

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to compile the worldwide knowledge on the traditional medicinal uses of edible fern species correlating to reported biological activities and isolated bioactive compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The articles and books published on edible fern species were searched through the online databases Web of Science, Pubmed and Google Scholar, with critical evaluation of the hits. The time period up to the end of 2022 was included.

RESULTS

First, the edible fern species were identified based on the literature data. A total of 90 fern species were identified that are eaten around the world and are also used in traditional medicine. Ailments treated are often associated with inflammation or bacterial infection. However, only the most common and well-known fern species, were investigated for their biological activity. The most studied species are Blechnum orientale L., Cibotium barometz (L.) J. Sm., Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Marsilea minuta L., Osmunda japonica Thunb., Polypodium vulgare L., and Stenochlaena palustris (Burm.) Bedd. Most of the fern extracts have been studied for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Not surprisingly, antioxidant capacity has been the most studied, with results reported for 28 edible fern species. Ferns have been found to be very rich sources of flavonoids, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, terpenoids and steroids and most of these compounds are remarkable free radical scavengers responsible for the outstanding antioxidant capacity of fern extracts. As far as clinical trials are concerned, extracts from only three edible fern species have been evaluated.

CONCLUSIONS

The extracts of edible fern species exert antioxidant anti-inflammatory and related biological activities, which is consistent with their traditional medicinal use in the treatment of wounds, burns, colds, coughs, skin diseases and intestinal diseases. However, studies to prove pharmacological activities are scarce, and require chemical-biological standardization. Furthermore, correct botanical classification needs to be included in publications to simplify data acquisition. Finally, more in-depth phytochemical studies, allowing the linking of traditional use to pharmacological relevance are needed to be done in a standardized way.

Ugonin P inhibits lung cancer motility by suppressing DPP-4 expression via promoting the synthesis of miR-130b-5p

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and the survival rate of metastatic lung cancer is exceedingly low. Helminthostatchys Zeylanica (H. Zeylanica) is a Chinese herbal medicine renowned for its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer activities in various cellular and animal studies. The current study evaluated the effects of H. Zeylanica derivatives on lung cancer cells. We determined that dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) expression levels were higher in lung cancer tissues than in normal tissues. We also determined that DPP-4 expression levels were higher in the metastatic stage and strongly correlated with lung cancer survival rates. An H. Zeylanica derivative (ugonin P) was shown to inhibit DPP-4 mRNA and protein expression in two lung cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Ugonin P was shown to decrease migration and invasion activities in lung cancer cells while promoting the synthesis of miR-130b-5p, which was found to negatively regulate DPP-4 protein expression and cell motility in lung cancer. We determined that ugonin P suppresses the DPP-4-dependent migration and invasion of lung cancer cells by downregulating the RAF/MEK/ERK signalling pathway and enhancing the expression of miR-130b-5p. This study provides compelling evidence that ugonin P could be used to develop novel therapeutic agents for the treatment of lung cancer.

Comparison of the Antioxidant Activities and Polysaccharide Characterization of Fresh and Dry Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo

It is generally believed that fresh Dendrobium officinale (FDO) has more significant pharmacological activity than dried Dendrobium officinale (DDO); however, the difference has not been clearly shown. Our study compared their antioxidant properties both in vitro and in vivo, and the molecular weight arrangement and monosaccharide composition of the fresh Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (FDOPs) and the dried Dendrobium officinale polysaccharides (DDOPs) were analyzed by HPLC-GPC and GC-MS. The results showed that the FDO and its polysaccharides had more significant effects on scavenging DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radicals than the DDO. In addition, both the FDO and DDO significantly reduced lipid peroxidation levels and increased the SOD, T-AOC, CAT, and GSH levels in mice with acute liver damage caused by CCl₄, while the FDO and its polysaccharides were more effective. Histopathological analysis further verified the protective effect of the Dendrobium polysaccharides on CCl₄-induced liver injury. The determination of the polysaccharides revealed that the polysaccharide and mannose contents of the FDO were significantly higher than their dried counterparts, and the homogeneous arrangement of the polysaccharides in the FDO was degraded into three polysaccharide fragments of different molecular weights in the DDO. Overall, our data identified differences in the antioxidant activities of the FDO and DDO, as well as the reasons for these differences.

Molecular pathogenesis of acetaminophen-induced liver injury and its treatment options

Acetaminophen, also known as N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP), is commonly used as an antipyretic and analgesic agent. APAP overdose can induce hepatic toxicity, known as acetaminophen-induced liver injury (AILI). However, therapeutic doses of APAP can also induce AILI in patients with excessive alcohol intake or who are fasting. Hence, there is a need to understand the potential pathological mechanisms underlying AILI. In this review, we summarize three main mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of AILI: hepatocyte necrosis, sterile inflammation, and hepatocyte regeneration. The relevant factors are elucidated and discussed. For instance, N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) protein adducts trigger mitochondrial oxidative/nitrosative stress during hepatocyte necrosis, danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are released to elicit sterile inflammation, and certain growth factors contribute to liver regeneration. Finally, we describe the current potential treatment options for AILI patients and promising novel strategies available to researchers and pharmacists. This review provides a clearer understanding of AILI-related mechanisms to guide drug screening and selection for the clinical treatment of AILI patients in the future.

Echinacoside alleviates acetaminophen-induced liver injury by attenuating oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in mice

This study evaluates the protective effect of Echinacoside on acute liver toxicity induced by acetaminophen in mice and the mechanism behind it. Echinacoside and N-Acetyl Cysteine were intragastrically administrated for 7 days, and acetaminophen was intraperitoneally injected into mice 1 h after the last treatment on day 7. At the end of the experimental period, histological examination, parameters for the level of oxidative damage, hepatic malondialdehyde, serum pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β), UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, and sulfotransferases changes were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and standard biochemical procedures. The expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 protein was assessed by western blot, followed by in silico molecular docking. Acetaminophen treatment obviously increased the levels of ALT and AST, changed hepatic histopathology, promoted oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, and elevated the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Echinacoside significantly attenuated Acetaminophen-induced liver damage in a dose-dependent manner, with the most effective dose at 100 mg/kg. The pretreatments of Echinacoside in different concentrations altered the Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity levels by decreasing the level of liver enzymes, reducing the liver necrosis with vacuolization, decreasing the hepatic malondialdehyde formation, increasing hepatic antioxidants activities, suppressing the pro-inflammatory cytokines (Tumor Necrosis Factor, Interleukin-6 and Interleukin-1beta), inhibiting Nitric Oxide production, enhancing sulfotransferases and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases activities. Notably, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 was inhibited by Echinacoside in a dose-dependent manner and the binding energy was -214.3 MeV. Echinacoside showed a significant protective effect against Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity through the inhibition of oxidative stress, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and cytochrome P450 2E1 protein expression.

Purified anthocyanins from Zea mays L. cob ameliorates chronic liver injury in mice via modulating of oxidative stress and apoptosis

BACKGROUND

Purple corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the main economic crops in China and has been used in the treatment of cystitis, urinary infections and obesity. However, purple corncobs, the by-product remaining after processing and having an intense purple-black color, are normally disposed of as waste or used as animal feed. Therefore, to further expand the medicinal value of purple corncob, its content was analyzed and, after purification, the effect and mechanism of purified purple corncob anthocyanins (PPCCA) on CCl₄ -induced chronic liver injury in mice were investigated.

RESULTS

It was observed that the total anthocyanin content (TAC) from PPCCA (317.51 ± 9.30 mg cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (C-3-G) g^-1 dry weight) was significantly higher than that from the purified purple corn seed anthocyanin (266.73 ± 3.67 mg C-3-G g^-1 dry weight), of which C-3-G accounted for 90.6% and 90.4% of the TAC, respectively. Furthermore, compared with the CCl₄ group, PPCCA treatment significantly reduced liver index, serum total bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and liver malondialdehyde levels, but increased liver superoxide dismutase activity. The pathological changes were also improved, such as more regular arrangement of hepatocytes, less swelling, and fewer vacuoles and apoptotic cells. Additionally, mechanistic studies showed that PPCCA downregulated the expression of Caspase-3, Bax and cytochrome P450 2E1 proteins in the liver and upregulated the expression of Bcl-2.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrated that PPCCA could ameliorate CCl₄ -induced chronic liver injury by regulating oxidative stress and hepatocyte apoptosis pathways. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Polyphenolics and triterpenes presence in chloroform extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves attenuated paracetamol-induced liver intoxication in rat

Introduction

Water-soluble, but not lipid-soluble, extract of Dicranopteris linearis leaves has been proven to possess hepatoprotective activity. The present study aimed to validate the hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities, and phytoconstituents of lipid-soluble (chloroform) extract of D. linearis leaves.

Methods

The extract of D. linearis leaves (CEDL; 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats for 7 consecutive days followed by the oral administration of 3 g/kg PCM to induce liver injury. Blood was collected for liver function analysis while the liver was obtained for histopathological examination and endogenous antioxidant activity determination. The extract was also subjected to antioxidant evaluation and phytochemicals determination via phytochemical screening, HPLC and UPLC-HRMS analyses.

Results

CEDL exerted significant (p < 0.05) hepatoprotective activity at 250 and 500 mg/kg and significantly (p < 0.05) reversed the PCM-induced decrease in rat’s liver endogenous antioxidant (catalase and superoxide dismutase) level. CEDL possessed a high antioxidant capacity when measured using the ORAC assay, but a low total phenolic content value and radical scavenging activity as confirmed via several radical scavenging assays, which might be attributed particularly to the presence of triterpenes. Phytochemicals screening demonstrated the presence of triterpenes and flavonoids, while UPLC-HRMS analysis showed the presence of polyphenols belonging to the hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinammates and flavonoid groups.

Discussion and conclusion

Lipid-soluble bioactive compounds of CEDL demonstrated hepatoprotective effect against PCM intoxication partly via the modulation of the endogenous antioxidant defense system, and exerted high antioxidant capacity. Further investigation is warranted to identify the potential hepatoprotective leads from CEDL for future drug development.

Gan Shen Fu Fang ameliorates liver fibrosis in vitro and in vivo by inhibiting the inflammatory response and extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is a common health problem worldwide and there is still a lack of effective medicines. The Chinese herbal medicine, Gan Shen Fu Fang (GSFF) is composed of salvianolic acid B and diammonium glycyrrhizinate. In this study, we observed the effects of GSFF on liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro in an attempt to provide some hope for the treatment.

AIM

To observe the effects of GSFF on liver fibrosis in vivo and in vitro and investigate the mechanism from the perspective of the inflammatory response and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation.

METHODS

Common bile duct-ligated rats were used for in vivo experiments. Hepatic stellate cells-T6 (HSC-T6) cells were used for in vitro experiments. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson staining, biochemical assays, hydroxyproline (Hyp) assays, enzyme-linked immunoasorbent assay and western blotting were performed to evaluate the degree of liver fibrosis, liver function, the inflammatory response and ERK phosphorylation. The CCK8 assay, immunofluorescence and western blotting were applied to test the effect of GSFF on HSC-T6 cell activation and determine whether GSFF had an effect on ERK phosphorylation in HSC-T6 cells.

RESULTS

GSFF improved liver function and inhibited liver fibrosis in common bile duct-ligated rats after 3 wk of treatment, as demonstrated by histological changes, hydroxyproline assays and collagen I concentrations. GSFF alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration and reduced the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interlukin-1β] and NF-κB. In addition, GSFF decreased ERK phosphorylation. In vitro, GSFF inhibited the viability of HSC-T6 cells with and without transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) stimulation and decreased the synthesis of collagen I. GSFF had the greatest effect at a concentration of 0.5 μmol/L. GSFF inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), a marker of HSC activation, in HSC-T6 cells. Consistent with the in vivo results, GSFF also inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and downregulated the expression of NF-κB.

CONCLUSION

GSFF inhibited liver fibrosis progression in vivo and HSC-T6 cell activation in vitro. These effects may be related to an alleviated inflammatory response and downregulated ERK phosphorylation.

Helminthostachys zeylanica alleviates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice

Background

Obesity and its associated health conditions, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are worldwide health problems. It has been shown that insulin resistance is associated with increased hepatic lipid and causes hepatic steatosis through a myriad of mechanisms, including inflammatory signaling.

Methods

Helminthostachys zeylanica (HZ) is used widely as a common herbal medicine to relieve fever symptoms and inflammatory diseases in Asia. In the present study, we evaluated whether HZ has therapeutic effects on obesity, NAFLD and insulin resistance. The protective effects of HZ extract were examined using free fatty acid-induced steatosis in human HuS-E/2 cells and a high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in mice.

Results

The major components of the HZ extract are ugonins J and K, confirmed by HPLC. Incubation of human hepatocytes, HuS-E/2 cells, with palmitate markedly increased lipid accumulation and treatment with the HZ extract significantly decreased lipid deposition and facilitated AMPK and ACC activation. After 12 weeks of a high-fat diet with HZ extract treatment, the HFD mice were protected from hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia. HZ extract prevented body weight gain, adipose tissue expansion and adipocyte hypertrophy in the HFD mice. In addition, fat accumulation was reduced in mice livers. Moreover, the insulin sensitivity-associated index, which evaluates insulin function, was also significantly restored.

Conclusions

These results suggest that HZ has a promising pharmacological effect on high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, which may have the potential for clinical application.

Curcumin mitigates mancozeb-induced hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity in rats

Mancozeb (MZ) is a widely used ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate fungicide in agriculture causing hepatoxic and genotoxic effects in rats. Curcumin (CUR) has various pharmacological effects including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study investigated the efficacy of CUR in mitigating MZ-induced hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity in rats. Twenty-four male rats were divided into four equal groups; group I (control) was given carboxymethyl cellulose, group II was orally administered CUR (100 mg/kg b.wt), group III was gavaged with MZ (750 mg/kg b.wt), and group IV was co-treated with MZ and CUR at the same doses daily for 10 weeks. As a result, the concurrent treatment with CUR and MZ minimized the increased levels of liver function markers in serum, lipid peroxidation, pro-inflammatory mediators and DNA damage parameters in liver. In addition, CUR administration improved the depleted markers of hepatic antioxidant status in MZ-treated rats. Moreover, CUR protected the liver against the histological alterations elicited by MZ exposure and also, reduced the immunopositive reactivity of pro-apoptotic p53 in cytoplasm of hepatocytes. The present findings suggest that CUR exerts a significant protective effect against MZ-induced hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity.

Circulating Peroxiredoxin-1 is a novel damage-associated molecular pattern and aggravates acute liver injury via promoting inflammation

Sterile inflammation is initiated by damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and a key contributor to acute liver injury (ALI). However, the current knowledge on those DAMPs that activate hepatic inflammation under ALI remains incomplete. We report here that circulating peroxiredoxin-1 (Prdx1) is a novel DAMP for ALI. Intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen (APAP) elicited a progressive course of ALI in mice, which was developed from 12 to 24 h post injection along with liver inflammation evident by macrophage infiltration and upregulations of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α); these alterations were concurrently occurred with a robust and progressive production of serum Prdx1. Similar observations were also obtained in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced ALI in mice. Removal of the source of serum Prdx1 protected mice deficient in Prdx1 from APAP and CCl₄-induced liver injury, and decreased macrophage infiltration, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α production. As a result, Prdx1^-/- mice were strongly protected from APAP-induced death that was likely progressed from ALI. Additionally, intravenous re-introduction of recombinant Prdx1 (rPrdx1) in Prdx1^-/- mice reversed or reduced all the above events, demonstrating an important contribution of circulating Prdx1 to ALI. rPrdx1 potently induced in primary macrophages the expression of pro-IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β through the NF-κB signaling as well as the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome signaling, evident by caspase-1 activation. Furthermore, a significant elevation of serum Prdx1 was demonstrated in patients (n = 15) with ALI; the elevation is associated with ALI severity. Collectively, we provide the first demonstration for serum Prdx1 contributing to ALI.