Hepatoprotective Effect of Ugonin M, A Helminthostachys zeylanica Constituent, on Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury in Mice

Abstract

The present study aimed to discover the possible effectiveness of Ugonin M, a unique flavonoid isolated from Helminthostachys zeylanica—a traditional Chinese medicine used as anti-inflammatory medicine—and to elucidate the potential mechanisms of Ugonin M in the acute liver injury induced by acetaminophen (APAP). In this study, Ugonin M significantly ameliorated APAP-induced histopathological changes and the typical liver function biomarkers (i.e., alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (T-Bil)). It also affected APAP-induced abnormal lipid metabolism including total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) in the serum. In inflammatory pharmacological action, Ugonin M suppressed the pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and the lipid peroxidation indicator malondialdehyde (MDA). In addition, Ugonin M reinforced hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein expression and the production of antioxidant enzymes viz superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT). Furthermore, inflammation-associated cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1β as well as proteins such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) were decreased by the pretreatment of Ugonin M. Moreover, this study found that pretreatment of Ugonin M apparently decreased nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) activation via inhibition of the degradation of NF-κB, inhibitory κB-α (IκB-α), extracellular regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun-N-terminal (JNK), and p38 active phosphorylation. In conclusion, Ugonin M significantly showed a protective effect against APAP-induced liver injury by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, Ugonin M could be one of the effective components of H. zeylanica that plays a major role in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.

Purified anthocyanins from Zea mays L. cob ameliorates chronic liver injury in mice via modulating of oxidative stress and apoptosis

“…T‐Bil is also an important indicator for the diagnosis of liver disease 24,25 . The results of the present study are consistent with previous reports 26,27 …”

Helminthostachys zeylanica alleviates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance in diet-induced obese mice

“…Previously, twelve flavonoids were identified in ethanol-extracted HZ through HPLC and NMR analysis [11]. Among the flavonoids in HZ, many bioactivities have been demonstrated, such as antioxidative activity [11], anti-inflammatory function [37], antiosteoporosis [12], and anti-cancer [42, 43] and hepatoprotective effects [44]. In addition, plant-derived flavondoids recently were proposed as a health supplement [45].…”

The Hepatoprotective Effects of Ethanolic Extract Noni Fruits (Morinda citrifolia L.) on Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Liver with SGPT and Histopathological Evaluations

“…In this study acetaminophen was chosen as an inducer because acetaminophen is a chemical compound that can cause liver necrosis. Acetaminophen or acetaminophen itself is used as an antipyretic and analgesic used in several countries.reports of acute liver injury due to acetaminophen [12]. Acetaminophen, which is metabolized in the liver via sulfatation, glucuronidation, and oxidation of cytochrome P450 pathways into a toxic metabolite, namely N-acetyl-pbenzoquinoneimine (NAPQI), a toxic metabolite will be bound by glutathione to form mercaptopuric acid which is easily excreted.…”