Ming-Hui Li1, Xin Feng2, Da Ji Deng Ba3, Cheng Chen4, Ling-Yu Ruan5, Yue-Xiao Xing6, Lv-Yi Chen7, Ge-Jia Zhong8, Jun-Song Wang9. 1. Center for Molecular Metabolism, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, 200 Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing 210094, People's Republic of China; School of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, No. 1 Beijing East Road, Wuhu 241000, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: cpu_lmh@126.com. 2. Tibetan Medicine Institute, China Tibetology Research Center, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: fengxin0303@163.com. 3. Tibetan Medicine Institute, China Tibetology Research Center, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 525184660@qq.com. 4. Center for Molecular Metabolism, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, 200 Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing 210094, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 917051703@qq.com. 5. Center for Molecular Metabolism, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, 200 Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing 210094, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 2601584016@qq.com. 6. Center for Molecular Metabolism, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, 200 Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing 210094, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 571929365@qq.com. 7. School of Pharmacy, South-Central University for Nationalities, 182 National Road, Wuhan 430074, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: clyhappy05@163.com. 8. Tibetan Medicine Institute, China Tibetology Research Center, Beijing 100101, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: zhonggejia@sina.com. 9. Center for Molecular Metabolism, Nanjing University of Science & Technology, 200 Xiaolingwei Street, Nanjing 210094, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: wang.junsong@gmail.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. (HCW) is a traditional Tibetan medicine, which has been used to ameliorate liver injuries in the folk. AIM OF THE STUDY: Liver fibrosis has been recognized as a major lesion of the liver that leads to liver cirrhosis/hepatocarcinoma and even to death in the end. This study aims to demonstrate the protective effect of HCW against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Liver function markers, fibrosis markers, serum anti-oxidation enzymes as well as elements levels were determined. Serum and liver tissues were subjected to NMR-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: HCW could significantly reduce the elevated levels of fibrosis markers such as hyaluronidase, laminin, Type III procollagen and Type IV collagen in the serum, improve the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, and effectively reverse the abnormal levels of elements in liver fibrosis rats. Correlation network analysis revealed that HCW could treat liver fibrosis by ameliorating oxidative stress, repairing the impaired energy metabolisms and reversing the disturbed amino acids and nucleic acids metabolisms. CONCLUSION: This integrated metabolomics approach confirmed the validity of the traditional use of HCW in the treatment of liber fibrosis, providing new insights into the underlying mechanisms.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. (HCW) is a traditional Tibetan medicine, which has been used to ameliorate liver injuries in the folk. AIM OF THE STUDY: Liver fibrosis has been recognized as a major lesion of the liver that leads to liver cirrhosis/hepatocarcinoma and even to death in the end. This study aims to demonstrate the protective effect of HCW against CCl4-induced liver injury in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4. Liver function markers, fibrosis markers, serum anti-oxidation enzymes as well as elements levels were determined. Serum and liver tissues were subjected to NMR-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: HCW could significantly reduce the elevated levels of fibrosis markers such as hyaluronidase, laminin, Type III procollagen and Type IV collagen in the serum, improve the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, and effectively reverse the abnormal levels of elements in liver fibrosisrats. Correlation network analysis revealed that HCW could treat liver fibrosis by ameliorating oxidative stress, repairing the impaired energy metabolisms and reversing the disturbed amino acids and nucleic acids metabolisms. CONCLUSION: This integrated metabolomics approach confirmed the validity of the traditional use of HCW in the treatment of liber fibrosis, providing new insights into the underlying mechanisms.