Ya-Yu Wang1, Shih-Yi Lin2, Wen-Ying Chen3, Su-Lan Liao4, Chih-Cheng Wu5, Pin-Ho Pan6, Su-Tze Chou7, Chun-Jung Chen8. 1. Division of Family Medicine, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan. Electronic address: yywang@vghtc.gov.tw. 2. Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan; Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan. Electronic address: sylin@vghtc.gov.tw. 3. Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan. Electronic address: wychen@dragon.nchu.edu.tw. 4. Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan. Electronic address: slliao@vghtc.gov.tw. 5. Department of Anesthesiology, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan. Electronic address: chihcheng.wu@gmail.com. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Tungs' Taichung MetroHarbor Hospital, Taichung 435, Taiwan. Electronic address: t6395@ms.sltung.com.tw. 7. Department of Cosmetic Science, Providence University, Taichung 433, Taiwan. Electronic address: stchou@pu.edu.tw. 8. Department of Medical Research, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung 407, Taiwan; Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan. Electronic address: cjchen@vghtc.gov.tw.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In traditional Chinese medicine, Glechoma hederacea is frequently prescribed to patients with cholelithiasis, dropsy, abscess, diabetes, inflammation, and jaundice. Polyphenolic compounds are main bioactive components of Glechoma hederacea. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of hot water extract of Glechoma hederacea against cholestatic liver injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cholestatic liver injury was produced by ligating common bile ducts in Sprague-Dawley rats. Saline and hot water extract of Glechoma hederacea were orally administrated using gastric gavages. Liver tissues and bloods were collected and subjected to evaluation using histological, molecular, and biochemical approaches. RESULTS: Using a rat model of cholestasis caused by bile duct ligation (BDL), daily oral administration of Glechoma hederacea hot water extracts showed protective effects against cholestatic liver injury, as evidenced by the improvement of serum biochemicals, ductular reaction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Glechoma hederacea extracts alleviated BDL-induced transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor, and collagen expression, and the anti-fibrotic effects were accompanied by reductions in α-smooth muscle actin-positive matrix-producing cells and Smad2/3 activity. Glechoma hederacea extracts attenuated BDL-induced inflammatory cell infiltration/accumulation, NF-κB and AP-1 activation, and inflammatory cytokine production. Further studies demonstrated an inhibitory effect of Glechoma hederacea extracts on the axis of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1)/toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) intracellular signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects of Glechoma hederacea extracts seem to be multifactorial. The beneficial effects of daily Glechoma hederacea extracts supplementation were associated with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic potential, as well as down-regulation of NF-κB, AP-1, and TGF-β/Smad signaling, probably via interference with the HMGB1/TLR4 axis.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In traditional Chinese medicine, Glechoma hederacea is frequently prescribed to patients with cholelithiasis, dropsy, abscess, diabetes, inflammation, and jaundice. Polyphenolic compounds are main bioactive components of Glechoma hederacea. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective potential of hot water extract of Glechoma hederacea against cholestatic liver injury in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Cholestatic liver injury was produced by ligating common bile ducts in Sprague-Dawley rats. Saline and hot water extract of Glechoma hederacea were orally administrated using gastric gavages. Liver tissues and bloods were collected and subjected to evaluation using histological, molecular, and biochemical approaches. RESULTS: Using a rat model of cholestasis caused by bile duct ligation (BDL), daily oral administration of Glechoma hederacea hot water extracts showed protective effects against cholestatic liver injury, as evidenced by the improvement of serum biochemicals, ductular reaction, oxidative stress, inflammation, and fibrosis. Glechoma hederacea extracts alleviated BDL-induced transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor, and collagen expression, and the anti-fibrotic effects were accompanied by reductions in α-smooth muscle actin-positive matrix-producing cells and Smad2/3 activity. Glechoma hederacea extracts attenuated BDL-induced inflammatory cell infiltration/accumulation, NF-κB and AP-1 activation, and inflammatory cytokine production. Further studies demonstrated an inhibitory effect of Glechoma hederacea extracts on the axis of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1)/toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) intracellular signaling pathways. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatoprotective, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic effects of Glechoma hederacea extracts seem to be multifactorial. The beneficial effects of daily Glechoma hederacea extracts supplementation were associated with anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fibrotic potential, as well as down-regulation of NF-κB, AP-1, and TGF-β/Smad signaling, probably via interference with the HMGB1/TLR4 axis.
Authors: Anderson Barbosa Baptista; Mariáurea M Sarandy; Reggiani Vilela Gonçalves; Rômulo Dias Novaes; Cláudio Gonçalves da Costa; João Paulo Viana Leite; Maria do Carmo Gouveia Peluzio Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med Date: 2020-12-07 Impact factor: 2.629