In order to optimize the process of solid-state fermentation and understand the changes of active ingredients during fermentation of A.senticosus, we used response surface methodology to optimize the solid-state fermentation process of A.senticosus and analyzed the effect of fermentation on the active components of A.senticosus by nontargeted metabolomics techniques. The effects of fermentation conditions on polyphenol content were studied in terms of fermentation time, fermentation temperature, water content, and the inoculum level through Plackett–Burman design and response surface experiments. The optimized fermentation conditions were a fermentation time of 60 h, a fermentation temperature of 37°C, a water content of 55%, and an inoculum level of 12.5%, and the polyphenol content reached 10.25 ± 0.05 mg·g−1, which was 40% higher than that before fermentation. Furthermore, the metabolites and metabolic pathways of A. senticosus were analyzed before and after fermentation using nontargeted metabolomics techniques, and differences in metabolites were investigated based on the analysis of the principal components. The results showed that A.senticosus contained 57 phenolics, and a total of 12 polyphenolic metabolites were significantly different before and after fermentation (including phenols and isoflavonoids), among which the content of caffeic acid and its derivatives with antioxidant capacity was significantly increased, which may improve the antioxidant capacity of fermented A.senticosus. Therefore, solid-state fermentation opens new avenues for the clinical development and application of A. senticosus.
The Acanthopanax senticosus has been shown to have a wide range of pharmacological activities, which are associated with health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. A previous study has shown that the n-butanol fraction of A. senticosus extract had the strongest antioxidant effect in vitro. This study aimed to investigate the effects that the n-butanol fraction of A. senticosus extract could relieve oxidative stress damage through antioxidant and antiapoptotic in the H2O2-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and the CCl4-induced liver injury. The result showed that the n-butanol fraction extract could relieve damage by increasing the intracellular antioxidant enzymes (SOD) level, decreasing intracellular ROS and MDA levels, and regulating antioxidant and antiapoptotic-related gene expression levels. The morphological observation of HE, TUNE, and immunohistochemistry staining of liver tissue verified that the n-butanol fraction extract is though anti-oxidative and antiapoptotic to alleviate cellular oxidative damage. The RT-PCR assay showed that the Keap1-Nrf2-ARE and the Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathway were related to the molecular mechanism of action. The experimental results show that Acanthopanax senticosus extract has a good effect in treating liver injury and enhancing the antioxidant capacity of the body.
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