Protection of the flavonoid fraction from Rosa laevigata Michx fruit against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Protective effect of the total flavonoids (TFs) from Rosa laevigata Michx fruit against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatotoxicity in mice was investigated. Pretreatment with TFs significantly decreased CCl4-induced elevation of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) activities as well as the relative liver weight. Histopathological observation also revealed that TFs reduced the incidence of liver lesions and improved hepatocyte abnormality. Moreover, oral administration of TFs significantly enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase), increased the content of glutathione and decreased the content of malondialdehyde. Further research indicated that TFs prevented the DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial ultrastructural alterations caused by CCl4 based on TUNEL and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) assays. Moreover, pretreatment with TFs down-regulated the protein expressions of CYP2E1, iNOS, NF-κB, Bak and Caspase-3. Quantitative Real-time PCR assay suggested that TFs markedly decreased the levels of TNF-α, Fas/FasL and Bax gene expressions, and increased the level of Bcl-2. This is the first time to report the significant hepatoprotective effect of TFs from R. laevigata Michx fruit against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice and the action should be through reducing oxidative stress and suppressing inflammation and apoptosis.

Zhang S ，Lu B ，Han X ，Xu L ，Qi Y ，Yin L ，Xu Y ，Zhao Y ，Liu K ，Peng J ... -  《-》

Protective effects of the total saponins from Rosa laevigata Michx fruit against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Saponins are the major chemicals from Rosa laevigata Michx fruit. However, there have no papers to report the activities of the natural product against liver damage. In the present work, total saponins from R. laevigata Michx fruit (RLTS) with purity>70% was produced and then the protective effects of it against CCl4-induced acute liver injury in mice was tested. The results showed that RLTS decreased serum ALT and AST activities compared with model group, as well as the relative liver weight and histological findings. In addition, RLTS remarkably increased the levels of SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, GSH and decreased MDA, iNOS and NO levels in liver. Transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL assays showed that RLTS repaired fragmented DNA and mitochondrial change caused by CCl4. Further investigation demonstrated that RLTS pretreatment down-regulated the protein expression of CYP2E1, ATF6, GRP78, EIF2, COX-2, NF-κB, p53, Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Cytokeratin 18 and the levels of MAPKs phosphorylation, up-regulated Bcl-2 expression, and markedly decreased the gene expression of TNF-α, IL-6, Fas/FasL and Bax. This is the first time to reveal the hepatoprotective effect of total saponins from R. laevigata Michx fruit, which should be developed as a new drug for treatment of live injury in future.

Dong D ，Zhang S ，Yin L ，Tang X ，Xu Y ，Han X ，Qi Y ，Peng J ... -  《-》

Total Flavonoids from Rosa laevigata Michx Fruit Ameliorates Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Rats.

Tao X ，Sun X ，Xu L ，Yin L ，Han X ，Qi Y ，Xu Y ，Zhao Y ，Wang C ，Peng J ... -  《Nutrients》

Protective effect of a polysaccharide from Anoectochilus roxburghii against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in mice.

Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. is traditionally used for the treatment of various types of chronic and acute hepatitis in China. Considering that Anoectochilus roxburghii polysaccharide (ARPT) is the main constituent of Anoectochilus roxburghii, the present study was designed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of ARPT and its possible mechanism in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mice. The hepatoprotective activity of ARPT (150, 300 and 500mg/kg) were investigated on CCl4-induced acute liver damage in mice. The activities of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) were determined in serum. The hepatic levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in liver homogenates. The levels of cytochrome P450 sub family 2E1 (CYP2E1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), KC (Murine IL-8 ortholog), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-β1), Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expressions of CYP2E1, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and caspase-3 were evaluated by western blot assays. The hepatic levels of TNF-α, IL-6, MIP-2 and TGF-β1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Furthermore, histopathological observation and terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling assay (TUNEL) were carried out on the separated livers of mice. ARPT significantly decreased serum ALT and AST activities, hepatic MDA level, and markedly enhanced antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT and GSH-Px) activities and GSH level in hepatic tissue, in a dose-dependent manner, when compared to the model group. Histopathological observation revealed the hepatoprotective effect of ARPT against the damage. Furthermore, ARPT remarkably inhibited CYP2E1 mRNA expression, decreased NF-κB p65 expression and therefore to prevent the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1, MIP-2 and KC), suppressed TGF-β1 expression and hepatocytes apoptosis. Moreover, ARPT could prevent DNA fragmentation based on TUNEL assay results. These findings suggested that ARPT possessed hepatoprotective effect against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in mice and the action might in part be through reducing oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Zeng B ，Su M ，Chen Q ，Chang Q ，Wang W ，Li H ... -  《-》

Protection by the Total Flavonoids from Rosa laevigata Michx Fruit against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Liver Injury in Mice via Modulation of FXR Signaling.

Dong L ，Han X ，Tao X ，Xu L ，Xu Y ，Fang L ，Yin L ，Qi Y ，Li H ，Peng J ... -  《Foods》