Novel functional food from an invasive species Polygonum cuspidatum:safety evaluation,chemical composition,and hepatoprotective effects

Accidentally,we found that the shoots of Polygonum cuspidatum(SPC)have been consumed for centuries as a traditional vegetable in the Shennongjia region of China.Local residents believe that SPC has biological effects such as antibacterial,anti-aging,and antioxidant.To provide scientific support for the use of SPC as a functional food,SPC was evaluated in terms of safety,chemical composition,and antioxidant activity both in vivo and in vitro.In the first,SPC exhibited no adverse cytotoxic effects or acute toxicity in mice.Then the chemical composition of SPC was determined by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry(UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS).Twenty-two compounds were identified from the SPC extracts,including phenolic,flavonoid,stilbene,and anthra-quinone.Finally,an acute ethanol-induced oxidative stress model in mice showed hepatoprotective effects.In brief,our study indicated that SPC is a safe,multifunctional food with antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities.Importantly,the consumption of SPC as a functional food provides a novel strategy for the efficient utilization of the invasive plant.

Antioxidative and hepatoprotective activities of a novel polysaccharide (LSAP) from Lepista sordida mycelia

A novel alkali-soluble polysaccharide from Lepista sordida(LSAP)mycelia with antioxidative and hepatoprotective activities was characterized.The weight-average molecular weight and number-average molecular weight of LSAP were 1.442×10^(3) and 6.05×10^(2) kDa,respectively.LSAP was consisted of glucose(57.9%),xylose(31.8%),and small amounts of rhamnose,arabinose,galactose,glucuronic acid,and galacturonic acid(1.2%–3.1%).The FT-IR and 2D NMR confi rmed that LSAP was composed of Xylp,Araf,4-O-Me-α-D-GlcpA,(1→4)-linkedβ-D-Glcp,and(1→4)-α-D-GalA,andβ-glycosidic linkages between these sugar units.LSAP displayed notable effects on 1,1-dephenyl-2-picryhydrazyl(DPPH)radical scavenging,hydrogen peroxide scavenging,lipid peroxidation inhibitory ability,reducing power and Fe^(2+)chelating property.These biological effects were further verifi ed by suppressing CCl_(4)-induced oxidative liver damage in mice at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg.Administration of LSAP in mice prior to CCl_(4) signifi cantly prevented the CCl_(4)-induced elevation in serum alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,and hepatic malondialdehyde.Mice treated with LSAP demonstrated to increase activities in superoxide dismutase(SOD)and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)in the liver.We also found out that LSAP prevented CCl_(4)-induced oxidative liver histological alteration.LSAP may exert hepatoprotective effects against CCl_(4)-induced damage through antioxidant mechanisms in model mice.

Medical plant extracts and natural compounds with a hepatoprotective effect against damage caused by antitubercular drugs: A review

Drug-induced liver injury encompasses a spectrum of diseases ranging from mild biochemical abnormalities to acute liver failure; example of this scenery is hepatotoxicity caused by the first-line antituberculous drugs isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide, which are basic for treatment of drug-sensible and drug-resistant tuberculosis. In the search for pharmacological alternatives to prevent liver damage, antitubercular drugs have been the subject of numerous studies and published reviews, a great majority of them carried out by Asian countries. At the same time, hepatoprotectors from plant source are now emerging as a possible alternative to counteract the toxic effects of these therapeutic agents. The present review aims to highlight the most recent studies on the subject, based information published in scientific databases such as Scopus and Pub Med.

Reducing oxidative stress and hepatoprotective effect of water extracts from Pu-erh tea on rats with high-fat diet

Reducing oxidative stress and hepatoprotective effect of Pu-erh tea water extracts on rats fed with high-fat diet were researched for explaining health care of Pu-erh tea.Fifty SD rats were divided into five groups.The body weight was measured once a day.The malondialdehyde(MDA)and glucose(Glu)levels and the activities of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),nitric oxide synthase(NOS),and pyruvate kinase(PK)in serum were determined.Furthermore,the hepatic glycogen level(HGL)and the activities of hepatic total superoxide dismutase(T-SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px)were also measured after continuous administration for 12 weeks.The result demonstrated that Pu-erh extract caused the decreases in body weight,fat index,MDA and NOS levels,and the increases in hepatic T-SOD,CAT and GSH-Px activities,indicating that the extract may be due to inhibiting the increases of body weight and fat index,reducing oxidant stress state and inhibiting lipid peroxidation,thus decreasing the activities of ALT and AST,and protecting the liver in rat.Meanwhile,the extracts could increase the production of hepatic glycogen and the activity of PK,and reduce glucose level,protecting the liver from the diseases associated with type II diabetes.

Hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at acupoint GB34 against CCl_4-induced chronic liver damage in rats

AIM： To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at Yanglingquan （GB34） on CCl4-induced chronic liver damage in rats. METHODS： Rats were injected intraperitoneally with CCh （1 mL/kg） and treated with manual acupuncture using reinforcing manipulation techniques at left GB34 （Yanglingquan） 3 times a week for 10 wk. A nonacupoint in left gluteal area was selected as a sham point. To estimate the hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at GB34, measurement of liver index, biochemical assays including serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol, histological analysis and blood cell counts were conducted. RESULTS： Manual acupuncture at GB34 reduced the liver index, serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol levels as compared with the control group and the sham acupuncture group. It also increased and normalized the populations of WBC and lymphocytes. CONCLUSION： Manual acupuncture with reinforcing manipulation techniques at left GB34 reduces liver toxicity, protects liver function and liver tissue, and normalizes immune activity in CCh-intoxicated rats.

Screening hepatoprotective effective components of Lonicerae japonica Flos based on the spectrum-effect relationship and its mechanism exploring

Lonicerae japonicae Flos(LF)is a kind of healthcare food with hepatoprotective function.This study was designed to explore the spectrum-effect relationships between UPLC fingerprints and the hepatoprotective effects of LF.Fingerprints of ten batches of LF were established by UPLC-PDA.The inhibitory levels of AST and ALT were used as pharmacological indexes,and secoxyloganin,isochlorogenic acid A and isochlorogenic acid C were screened as hepatoprotective active compounds by grey relational analysis(GRA)and partial least squares regression analysis(PLSR).Caspase-3 was obtained by network pharmacology as a key target of hepatoprotective active compounds.Molecular docking is used to explore the interaction between small molecules and proteins.This work provided a general model of the combination of UPLC-PDA and hepatoprotective effect to study the spectrum-effect relationship of LF,which can be used to considerable methods and insight for the fundamental research of the material basis of similar healthcare food.

Hepatoprotective effect of Premna corymbosa(Burm.f.) Rottl.& Willd.leaves extract on CCl_4 induced hepatic damage in Wistar albino rats

Objective:To investigate the hepetoprotective activity of Premna corymbosa leaves against carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4) induced hepatic damage.Methods:Hepatotoxicity was induced in wistar rats of both sexes by intraperitoneal injection of CCl_4,1 mL/kg body weight for every 72 h.The ethanolic extract of Premna corymbosa leaves were administrated at doses of 200 & 400 mL/kg body weight, p.o.,daily for 14 days.The hepatotoxicity and its prevention was assessed by serum markers like serum alkaline phosphatase(SALP),serum triglycerides(STG),serum total protein(STP), serum cholesterol(SC),and liver wet weight and histopathological studies of the liver.Results:In treatment with the ethanolic extract,the toxic effect of CCl_4 was controlled significantly(P<0.01) by restoration of the levels of biochemical parameters as compared to normal and standard drug silymarin treated groups.The liver weight was reduced by the ethanolic extract treated groups. The histopathology of the liver sections evidenced the hepatoprotective activity.Conclusion:The ethanolic extract of the leaves of Premna corymbosa possess significant acute hepatoprotective activity.Premna corymbosa can be recommended for the liver disorders.

Characterization and Biological Activities of Protein-Bound Polysaccharides Produced by Cultures of Pleurotus ostreatus

Several species of mushrooms, as Pleurotus ostreatus, have been valued as edible and medicinal resources. These mushrooms may be an important source of polysaccharides with medicinal properties as antioxidant, antitumoral, antimicrobial and immunological properties. The aim of this work was to produce and to evaluate the biological properties of protein-bound polysaccharide complexes, extra intracellular （E-PPS and I-PPS）, extracted from P. ostreatus cultures, using agricultural sunflower wastes as carbon source. Three main compounds in the E-PPS and four main compounds in the I-PPS were identified by SEC-UV-RI-HPLC. These complexes of P. ostreatus present no toxicity in Artemia salina cultures, after 24 h of incubation. Antioxidant properties of the complexes were evaluated by radical scavenging activity using DPPH method and lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity, determined by erytbsocytes hemolysis. Additionally, E-PPS and I-PPS extracts revealed capacity to mimetize superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymatic activities. The hepatoprotector effect of E-PPS extracts in Wistar rats was evaluated by AST, ALT, ALP and y-GT activities, showing capacity to reduce the liver damage induced by ethanol-administration. This hepatoprotective effect is equivalent to that observed by silymarin, a standard drug. Our results suggests that the extracts of E-PPS and I-PPS produced by P. ostreatus cultures, using agricultural sunflower wastes as main carbon source, can be used as an important source of bioactive compounds with potential medicinal value.

Hepatoprotective activity of Gentiana veitchiorum Hemsl. against against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity in mice

AIM: To study the hepatoprotective effect of methanol extract of Gentiana veitchiorum(MGV) against CCl4-induced oxidative stress and liver injury in mice. METHOD: The acute hepatic model was developed by injection of 20% CCl4 in mice. ICR mice were divided into six groups, including control, CCl4, CCl4+ silymarin, and CCl4+ MGV(100, 200, and 400 mg·kg–1) groups. Hepatic enzymes including AST, ALT and ALP levels in serum, and antioxidant enzymes, including SOD, CAT and GPX activity in liver tissue, were determined. Histopathological examination and Western blot analysis were performed. RESULTS: Oral administration of MGV at 200 and 400 mg·kg–1 for 15 days dose-dependently inhibited the serum elevations of AST, ALT, and ALP, and recovered the reduction of SOD, CAT, and GPX in liver tissue. Hematoxylin and eosin staining examination performed in liver tissues suggested that MGV treatment ameliorated histopathological changes in CCl4-induced mice. Western blotting analysis implied that MGV increased HO-1 expression and recovered TNF-α alternation. CONCLUSION: G. veitchiorum can protect the liver against CCl4-induced damage in mice, and this hepatoprotective effect was due at least in part to its ability through scavenging CCl4-associated free radical activities. The study provided in vivo evidence that G. veitchiorum can be used as a safe, cheap, and effective agent to reduce acute liver damage, supporting its folk medicine use.

Hepatoprotective ability of tetramethylpyrazine produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Tetramethylpyrazine(TTMP),an important aroma compound,was produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens XJB-104 with distillers’grains as raw material.The yield of TTMP under optimized fermentation procedure was 3176.52 mg/L.TTMP in the fermentation broth was purified and the purity(>99%)was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.Furthermore,the hepatoprotective activity of TTMP in ethanol-water system was evaluated by biochemical indicators of liver injury,parameters of antioxidant defense system and inflammatory response,and liver histopathological assessment in mice.Ethanol treatment increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,alkaline phos-phatase and lactate dehydrogenase,suggesting liver damage.Both high and low dose of TTMP significantly decreased levels of these indicators.Furthermore,the reduction in the activities or concentrations of superoxide dismutase,catalase,reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde in liver tissue caused by ethanol was significantly alleviated by TTMP.Increased inflammatory cytokines including transcription factor,tumor necrosis factor,interleukin-1beta,interleukin,macrophage chemoattractant protein,inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase were also suppressed by TTMP treatment.It is concluded that TTMP in ethanol-water system has potential liver-protective activity,especially when ethanol is consumed at low doses for short periods of time.

Metabolic profiling of endogenous bile acids:a novel method to assess hepatoprotective effect of Tanreqing capsule on carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver injury in rats

Tanreqing(TRQ), a traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) formula, can alleviate liver injury and improve liver function. Its pharmacological mechanisms of actions are still unclear due to its complex components and multi-target natures. Metabolomic study is an effective approach to investigating drug pharmacological actions, new diagnostic markers, and potential mechanisms of actions. In the present study, a new strategy was used to evaluate the protective effect of TRQ capsule against carbon tetrachloride(CCl_4)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, by analyzing metabolic profiling of endogenous bile acids(BAs) along with biochemical and histological analyses. BAs concentrations were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS). Principal component analysis and partial least squares discriminant analysis were then employed to analyze the UPLC-MS results and compare the hepatoprotective effect of TRQ capsule in different groups at the doses of 0.36, 1.44, and 2.88 g·kg^(-1) body weight, respectively. Moreover, our results suggested that taurocholic acid(TCA) and taurohyodesoxycholic acid(THDCA) were the most important biochemical markers, which were indicative of CCl_4-induced acute hepatic damage and hepatoprotective effect of TRQ capsule. Therefore, this new strategy would be an excellent alternative method for evaluating hepatoprotective effect and proposing potential mechanisms of action for other drugs as well.

Anti-Obesity and Anti-Hyperlipidemia Effects of Antrodia cinnamomea Mycelial Extract in High-Fructose Diet-Fed Mice

This study investigated hypolipidemic,weight-reducing,and hepatoprotective effects of Antrodia cinnamomea mycelial extract obtained from solid-state culture(ACME)in an HFr D-induced obese/hyperlipidemic mouse model.Following 4-week ACME treatment,body weight,epididymal fat index,and some serum biochemical indices were measured.Expression levels of some related genes involved in cholesterol and lipid metabolism were analyzed by q RT-PCR.Moreover,histological studies of hepatic tissues were also conducted.After ACME treatment,body weight and epididymal fat index were significantly lower than that in model control group.ACME and simvastatin significantly reduced serum total cholesterol(T-CHO)and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)levels,and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)level.Subsequent experiments showed that:(i)ACME regulated transcriptional expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-Co A reductase(HMGR),low-density lipoprotein receptor(LDLR),adipose triglyceride lipase(ATGL),and fatty acid synthase(FAS),with consequent reduction of blood lipid levels and body weight;(ii)ACME enhanced total antioxidant capacity(T-AOC)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)activity in hepatic tissues;(iii)ACME reduced malondialdehyde(MDA)level and ameliorated lipid oxidative damage in liver.Our findings indicate that ACME is a strong candidate for development as a novel anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-obesity health product.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Camel Thorn Polyphenols in Concanavalin A-Induced Hepatitis in Mice

Objective:To explore the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of Alhagi maurorum ethanolic extract(AME)in concanavalin A(Con A)-induced hepatitis(CIH)as well as possible underlying mechanisms.Methods:Polyphenols in AME were characterized using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups.Normal group received intravenous phosphate-buffered saline(PBS);Con A group received 40 mg/kg intravenous Con A.Prophylaxis group administered 300 mg/(kg·d)AME orally for 5 days before Con A intervention.Treatment group received intravenous Con A then administered300 mg/kg AME at 30 min and 3 h after Con A intervention.After 24 h of Con A injection,hepatic injury,oxidative stress,and inflammatory mediators were assessed.Histopathological examination and markers of apoptosis,inflammation,and CD4^(+)cell infiltration were also investigated.Results:HPLC analysis revealed that AME contains abundant polyphenols with pharmacological constituents,such as ellagic acid,gallic acid,ferulic acid,methylgallate,and naringenin.AME alleviated Con A-induced hepatic injury,as manifested by a significant reduction in alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase(P<0.01).Additionally,the antioxidant effect of AME was revealed by a significant reduction in oxidative stress markers(nitric oxide and malondialdehyde)and restored glutathione(P<0.01).The levels of proinflammatory cytokines(tumor necrosis factor-α,interferon-γ,and interleukin-6)and c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)activity were reduced(P<0.01).Histopathological examination of liver tissue showed that AME significantly ameliorated necrotic and inflammatory lesions induced by Con A(P<0.01).Moreover,AME reduced the expression of nuclear factor kappa B,pro-apoptotic protein(Bax),caspase-3,and CD4^(+)T cell hepatic infiltration(P<0.01).The expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 was increased(P<0.01).Conclusions:AME has hepatoprotective and ameliorative effects in CIH mice.These beneficial effects are likely due to the anti-inflammatory,antioxidant,and anti-apoptotic effects of the clinically important polyphenolic content.AME could be a novel and promising hepatoprotective agent for managing immune-mediated hepatitis.

Centranthera grandiflore alleviates alcohol-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis

Alcohol liver disease(ALD)has become a global threat to human health.It is associated with a wide range of liver diseases including alcohol fatty liver,steatosis,fibrosis and cirrhosis,and finally leads to liver cancer and even death.Centranthera grandiflora is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb commonly used to treat ALD,but no research about its mechanism is available.This study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of C.grandiflora against alcohol-induced liver injury in mice.We found that the ethanol extracts of C.grandiflora(CgW)alleviated the alcohol-induced liver injury,enhanced the levels of antioxidant enzymes,and reduced the amount of lipid peroxides.CgW also affected cell apoptosis by inhibiting the activity of Bax,cleaved-caspase 3 and cleaved-caspase 9,and increasing the activity of Bcl-2.In conclusion,the results showed that CgW can effectively improve ALD through alleviating oxidative stress and inhibiting cell apoptosis for the first time.This study suggested that C.grandiflora is a promising herbal medicine for ALD treatment.