Hepatoprotective effects of Hovenia dulcis seeds against alcoholic liver injury and related mechanisms investigated via network pharmacology

BACKGROUND Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is a worldwide health problem,and natural products have been shown to improve ALD due to their antioxidant activities.Some parts of Hovenia dulcis(H.dulcis),such as roots,peduncles,and stems,provide health benefits.Nevertheless,the effects and mechanisms of H.dulcis seeds on ALD have not yet been fully elucidated.AIM To determine H.dulcis antioxidant activity,evaluate its effects against ALD,and investigate the related mechanisms via network pharmacology.METHODS The antioxidant activity of H.dulcis seed was determined by both ferric-reducing antioxidant power and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry,respectively,and polysaccharide was determined by phenol-sulfuric acid method.The effects of H.dulcis seeds against alcoholic liver injury were investigated in mice with water extract pretreatment for 7 days followed by alcohol administration.Moreover,the mechanisms of action were explored with network pharmacology.RESULTS The results showed that H.dulcis seeds possessed strong antioxidant activity(245.11±10.17μmol Fe2+/g by ferric-reducing antioxidant power and 284.35±23.57μmol TE/g by trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity)and contained remarkable phenols and flavonoids,as well as a few polysaccharides.H.dulcis seeds attenuated alcohol-induced oxidative liver injury,showing reduced serum alanine and aspartate aminotransferases,alkaline phosphatase,and triglyceride,elevated hepatic glutathione,increased activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase,and reduced malondialdehyde and hepatic triglyceride.The results of network pharmacology analysis indicated that kaempferol,stigmasterol,and naringenin were the main bioactive compounds in H.dulcis seeds and that modulation of oxidative stress,inflammation,gut-derived products,and apoptosis were underlying mechanisms of the protective effects of H.dulcis seeds on ALD.CONCLUSION The results of this study demonstrate that H.dulcis seeds could be a good natural antioxidant source with protective effects on oxidative diseases such as ALD.

Antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effect of 10 medicinal herbs on CCl4-induced liver injury in mice

BACKGROUND Many natural products confer health benefits against diverse diseases through their antioxidant activities.Carbon tetrachloride(CCl4)is often used in animal experiments to study the effects of substances on liver injury and the related mechanisms of action,among which oxidative stress is a major pathogenic factor.AIM To compare antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of ten herbs and identify and quantify phytochemicals for the one with strongest hepatoprotection.METHODS The antioxidant activity of ten medicinal herbs was determined by both ferricreducing antioxidant power and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity assays.The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by Folin–Ciocalteu method and aluminum chloride colorimetry,respectively.Their effects on CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury were evaluated and compared in a mouse model by administrating each water extract(0.15 g/mL,10 mL/kg)once per day for seven consecutive days and a dose of CCl4 solution in olive oil(8%,v/v,10 mL/kg).The herb with the strongest hepatoprotective performance was analyzed for the detailed bioactive components by using high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization source-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry.RESULTS The results revealed that all tested herbs attenuated CCl4-induced oxidative liver injury;each resulted in significant decreases in levels of serum alanine transaminase,aspartate transaminase,alkaline phosphatase,and triacylglycerols.In addition,most herbs restored hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities,glutathione levels,and reduced malondialdehyde levels.Sanguisorba officinalis(S.officinalis)L.,Coptis chinensis Franch.,and Pueraria lobata(Willd.)Ohwi root were the three most effective herbs,and S.officinalis L.exhibited the strongest hepatoprotective effect.Nine active components were identified in S.officinalis L.Gallic acid and(+)-catechin were quantified(7.86±0.45 mg/g and 8.19±0.57 mg/g dried weight,respectively).Furthermore,the tested herbs displayed a range of in vitro antioxidant activities proportional to their phenolic content;the strongest activities were also found for S.officinalis L.CONCLUSION This study is of value to assist the selection of more effective natural products for direct consumption and the development of nutraceuticals or therapeutics to manage oxidative stress-related diseases.

Microstructure and texture evolution of Mg–3Zn–1Al magnesium alloy during large-strain electroplastic rolling

Large-strain deformation by single electroplastic rolling （EPR） was imposed on AZ31 magnesium alloy strips. During EPR at low temperature （150-250℃）, numerous twins formed in the alloy. After EPR at a high temperature （350℃）, the number of twins reduced and some dynamic recrystallization （DRX） grains formed at grain boundaries and twinned regions. The synergic thermal and athermal effects generated by electropulsing, which promoted dislocation motion, induced a few small DRX grains, and ductile bandings were mainly re- sponsible for large-strain deformation during EPR. The inclination angle of the basal pole stemmed from the counterbalance of the inclina- tion direction of the basal pole between the DRX grains and deformed coarse grains.

Influence of intermediate annealing on the microstructure and texture of Ni-9.3at%W substrates

The effects of intermediate annealing （IA） on the microstructure and texture of Ni-9.3at%W substrates have been investigated by using electron backscattering diffraction and X-ray diffraction. Results suggest that IA can optimize the homogeneity of deformation micro-structure. Higher IA temperatures （without undergoing recrystallization during IA） will increase the copper-type components of deformation texture and improve the content of cube texture after recrystallization. Sharp cube texture （97.2%） can be obtained at the optimum IA tem-perature of 650°C. The mechanism underlying the transition of deformation texture can be interpreted as that IA increases the dislocation slipping ability and suppresses the twinning deformation of Copper orientation in the subsequent rolling process. The observed strengthening of cube texture as a result of IA treatment is presumably attributed to the reduction of noncube nucleation and the optimization of preferential growth surrounding the cube nuclei.

Enhanced Surface Mechanical Properties and Microstructure Evolution of Commercial Pure Titanium Under Electropulsing-Assisted Ultrasonic Surface Rolling Process

The effects of electropulsing-assisted ultrasonic surface rolling process on surface mechanical properties andmicrostructure evolution of commercial pure titanium were investigated. It was found that the surface mechanical prop-erties were significantly enhanced compared to traditional ultrasonic surface rolling process （USRP）, leading to smallersurface roughness and smoother morphology with fewer cracks and defects. Moreover, surface strengthened layer wasremarkably enhanced with deeper severe plastic deformation layer and higher surface hardness. Remarkable enhancementsof surface mechanical properties may be related to the gradient refined microstructure, the enhanced severe plasticdeformation layer and the accelerated formation of sub-boundaries and twins induced by coupling effects of USRP andelectropulsing. The primary intrinsic reasons for these improvements may be attributed to the thermal and athermal effectscaused by electropulsing treatment, which would accelerate dislocation mobility and atom diffusion.

Fabrication of a Gradient Nano-/Micro-structured Surface Layer on an Al–Si Casting Alloy by Means of Ultrasonic–Electropulsing Coupling Rolling Process

By using a novel surface modification technique named ultrasonic-electropulsing coupling rolling （UECR） process on an Al-Si casting alloy rod, the surface of material was smoothened significantly. Meanwhile, a strengthened layer with agradient change in hardness was obtained in the outer surface, corresponding to a homogeneous gradient nano-/micro-structure. The thickness of nanometer-thick laminated structures was at least 40 μm, which was much thicker thanconventional ultrasonic rolling process. During UECR, the formation of the well-defined nanocrystalline structure wasattributed to the high strain rate and simultaneous annealing process realized by ultrasonic impact and electropulsingtreatment.