A Network Pharmacology Study of the Molecular Mechanisms of Hypericum japonicum in the Treatment of Cholestatic Hepatitis with Validation in an Alpha-Naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) Hepatotoxicity Rat Model.

BACKGROUND This network pharmacology study aimed to identify the active compounds and molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of Hypericum japonicum on cholestatic hepatitis. We validated the findings in an alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) rat model of hepatotoxicity. MATERIAL AND METHODS The chemical constituents and targets of H. japonicum and target genes previously associated with cholestatic hepatitis were retrieved from public databases. A network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software and the STRING database and potential protein functions were analyzed based on the public platform of bioinformatics. ANIT was used to induce cholestatic hepatitis in a rat model using 36 Sprague-Dawley rats, and this model was used to investigate intervention with 3 doses of quercetin (low-dose, 50 mg/kg; medium-dose, 100 mg/kg; and high-dose, 200 mg/kg), the main active component of H. japonicum. Levels of serum biochemical indexes were measured by commercial kits, and the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of markers of liver and mitochondrial function and oxidative stress were detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS The main active ingredients of H. japonicum were quercetin, kaempferol, and tetramethoxyluteolin, and their key targets included prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), and farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Quercetin intervention promoted recovery from cholestatic hepatitis. CONCLUSIONS The findings from this research provide support for future research on the roles of quercetin, kaempferol, and tetramethoxyluteolin in human liver disease and the roles of the PTGS2, BCL2, CYP7A1, and FXR genes in cholestatic hepatitis.

Paeonia lactiflora Pall. regulates the NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway to alleviate cholestasis in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Cholestasis is a critical risk factor for severe hepatic disease or cirrhosis. The anti-inflammatory effect of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. (PLP), named Chishao in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), on alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced cholestasis model was tried to be elucidated in this research. METHODS: Therapeutic effect indices on hepatic function, including ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL, ALP, TBA and γ-GT, were measured. To further investigate the protective mechanism of PLP, the mRNA and protein expression levels of NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway were detected. RESULTS: Our results showed that compared with the model group, PLP could significantly reduce the increased serum indices such as ALT, AST, TBIL, DBIL, ALP, TBA and γ-GT induced by ANIT in a dose-dependent way. Moreover, we found that PLP downregulated the mRNA expression levels including IKK, p65, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1ß, especially at the large dose. Furthermore, PLP also significantly inhibited NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway by decreasing the protein levels of p65, p-p65, p-IKK, NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1ß. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that PLP could ameliorate ANIT-induced cholestasis in rats and the anti-inflammatory effect of PLP might be related to regulating NF-κB-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. This study will provide scientific evidence for PLP as a potential drug candidate for cholestasis.

Effects of andrographolide on intrahepatic cholestasis induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate in rats.

Cholestasis is a cardinal manifestation of liver diseases but effective therapeutic approaches are limited. Therefore, alternative therapy for treating and preventing cholestatic liver diseases is necessary. Andrographolide, a promising anticancer drug derived from the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata, has diverse pharmacological properties and multi-spectrum therapeutic applications. However, it is unknown whether andrographolide has a hepatoprotective effect on intrahepatic cholestasis. The aims of this study were to investigate the protective effect and possible mechanisms of andrographolide in a rat model of acute intrahepatic cholestasis induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT). Andrographolide was administered intragastrically for four consecutive days, with a single intraperitoneal injection of ANIT on the second day. Liver injury was evaluated biochemically and histologically together with hepatic gene and protein expression analysis. Rats pretreated with andrographolide prior to ANIT injection demonstrated lower levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, as well as bilirubin and bile acids as compared to rats treated with ANIT alone. Andrographolide also decreased the incidence and extent of periductular fibrosis and bile duct proliferation. Analysis of protein expression in livers from andrographolide-treated cholestatic rats revealed markedly decreased expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). In conclusion, andrographolide has a potent protective property against ANIT-induced cholestatic liver injury. The mechanisms that underlie this protective effect are mediated through down-regulation of NF-κB expression and inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation. These findings suggest that andrographolide could be a promising therapeutic option in prevention and slowing down the progression of cholestatic liver diseases.

Evaluation study on urine metabolomics in yinhuang rat model induced by triplet factors of rhubarb, ethanol, and α-nephthylisothiolyanate.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the biomarkers capable to characterize the animal composite model of Chinese medicine (CM) yinhuang syndrome induced by triplet factors of rhubarb, ethanol, and α-nephthylisothiolyanate (abbreviated as R, E, and A below) through metabolomic study and to evaluate the established model by means of studying the sources of markers based on the changes of metabolites produced from various combinations of the three modeling drugs. METHODS: Eighty Wistar rats allocated equally in eight groups (A-H) were treated with saline, R+E+A, R, E, A, R+E, R+A, and E+A, respectively. Rats' 12 h urine in the 14 successive experimental days were collected separately using metabolic cages and analyzed by ultra performance liquid chromatograph/time of flight mass spectrometer (UPLC/TOF-MS) to create the metabolic contour graph of urine in different groups for identifying the differences between them. The similarities and differences of metabolic network among various groups were represented from microcosmic viewpoint by pattern recognition method (principal component analysis). RESULTS: Controlled by group A, the landing points in principal component map of various groups were apparently assorted, especially obvious on the 14th day; 19 biomarkers, which capable to represent the genesis and development process of the yinhuang syndrome in the triplet factors-induced rat model, were identified. CONCLUSION: Metabolomic method is successfully used in evaluating the animal model of CM syndrome. Furthermore, according to the holistic view and substance changes in vivo, the influences of disease on organism were comprehensively analyzed, and the pathogenic mechanism of CM yinhuang syndrome was explored at the level of metabolomics in vivo as well.

[Effect of emodin on P-gp expression in intrahepatic cholestatic rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect and mechanism of emodin on acute intrahepatic cholestasis induced by alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT) in rats. METHOD: Acute cholestatic model in rats was induced by ANIT. Normal control group, emodin group without ANIT treatment, model group and emodin group with ANIT treatment were set up. Liver function and pathological changes of hepatic tissue were examined. Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA levels of the hepatic transport protein genes mdr1a (multidrug resistance protein 1a), mdr1b (multidrug resistance protein 1b) mdr2 (multidrug resistance protein 2), The expression of P-gp were determined by Western blotting analysis. RESULT: Compared to the model group, Emodin treatment resulted in significant reductions in serum total bilirubin (TBiL), direct bilirubin (DBiL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bile acid (TBA) (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). By examining the liver pathology, it was found that hepatic cellular change and necrosis, inflammatory cell infiltration and bile duct proliferation were notably alleviated in emodin model with ANIT treatment. Analysis of gene expression in livers from emodin-treated cholestatic rats revealed that mdr1a, mdr1b and mdr2 could be up-regulated (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), expression of P-gp was increased in accordance with its mRNA (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Emodin has a protective effect on hepatocytes and a restoring activity on cholestatic hepatitis. Mechanism of its action may be related to induce expression of the bile-metabolism-related transporter P-gp in the liver to prevent bile acids and other toxic compounds overaccumulation in hepatocytes and hepatic toxicity.

Effect of melatonin on changes in hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities in rats treated with alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate.

We have reported that melatonin protects against alpha-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT)-induced acute liver injury in rats by preventing enhanced lipid peroxidation. Herein, we examine the effect of melatonin on hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities in rats with a single i.p. injection of ANIT (75 mg/kg body weight) in order to clarify the protective mechanism of the indoleamine against ANIT-induced acute liver injury. Rats received a single oral administration of melatonin (10 or 100 mg/kg body weight) at 12 hr after ANIT treatment. Hepatic Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu,Zn-SOD), Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), catalase (CAT), Se-glutathione peroxidase (Se-GSH-Px), glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH) activities and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration were determined 12 and 24 hr after ANIT treatment. ANIT-treated rats showed decreases in hepatic Cu,Zn-SOD and GSSG-R activities at 24 hr after treatment, transient increases in hepatic CAT and Se-GSH-Px activities at 12 hr, and no changes in hepatic Mn-SOD and G-6-PDH activities at 12 or 24 hr. Only the high dose of melatonin attenuated the decrease in hepatic Cu,Zn-SOD activity, while both doses of the indoleamine almost completely attenuated the decrease in hepatic GSSG-R activity. Neither dose of melatonin affected hepatic CAT, Se-GSH-Px, and G-6-PDH activities. ANIT-treated rats showed an increase in hepatic GSH concentration at 24 hr after treatment. Neither dose of melatonin affected the increase in hepatic GSH concentration. These results indicate that orally administered melatonin prevents decreases in Cu,Zn-SOD and GSSG-R activities in the liver of ANIT-treated rats, and suggest that the indoleamine may protect against ANIT-induced acute liver injury by attenuating the disruption of hepatic antioxidant defense systems.