Effects of Puerariae Radix Extract on Endotoxin Receptors and TNF-αExpression Induced by Gut-Derived Endotoxin in Chronic Alcoholic Liver Injury

Abstract

Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) is one of the earliest medicinal plants used to treat alcohol abuse in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a millennium. However, little is known about its effects on chronic alcoholic liver injury. Therefore, the present study observed the effects of puerariae radix extract (RPE) on chronic alcoholic liver injury as well as Kupffer cells (KCs) activation to release tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) induced by gut-derived endotoxin in rats and macrophage cell line. RPE was observed to alleviate the pathological changes and lipids deposition in liver tissues as well as the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and hepatic gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. Meanwhile, RPE inhibited KCs activation and subsequent hepatic TNF-α expression and downregulated the protein expression of endotoxin receptors, lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), CD14, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, and TLR4 in chronic alcohol intake rats. Furthermore, an in vitro study showed that RPE inhibited the expression of TNF-α and endotoxin receptors, CD14 and TLR4, induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells. In summary, this study demonstrated that RPE mitigated liver damage and lipid deposition induced by chronic alcohol intake in rats, as well as TNF-α release, protein expression of endotoxin receptors in vivo or in vitro.

Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Hangover and Alcohol Use Disorder

“…In addition, puerarin reduced hepatotoxicity in CCl 4 -induced hepatic fibrosis and chronic alcoholic liver injury in rats via the following underlying mechanisms: (a) regulated enzymes (ALT, AST), albumin, and total protein in blood; (b) inhibited Kupffer cells activation and attenuated TNF-α/NF-κB pathway for anti-inflammation response; and (c) improved metabolic function in liver tissue [48]. Additionally, owing to the antioxidant ability of Pueraria lobata, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased in liver [48,49]. Therefore, the flowers of kudzu might have the ability to alleviate hangover and provide hepatoprotection while the root of kudzu was effective in reducing alcohol intake in several clinical population studies.…”

Achyrocline satureioides(Lam.) D.C. Hydroalcoholic Extract Inhibits Neutrophil Functions Related to Innate Host Defense

“…LPS binds to TLR-4 on the cell membrane and activates signal-transduction pathways, mainly via MyD88, which is a central adapter protein that leads to activation of the nuclear transcription factor factor- κ B (NF- κ B). NF- κ B is the most important regulator of proinflammatory gene expression and induces a release of critical inflammatory molecules that are necessary to induce leukocyte migration into injured tissue and suitable immune responses [12, 13]. …”

Aqueous Extract of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Inhibits Neutrophil Influx and Cytokine Secretion

“…LPS binds to TLR‐4 on the cell membrane and induces NF‐κB transcription, mainly through the MyD88 signaling pathway. NF‐κB is a transcriptional factor that controls the expression of numerous genes involved in inflammation, which leads to a release of the critical inflammatory molecules, conducting the appropriate immune response (Kagan and Medzhitov, ; Peng et al , ).…”