Tentatively Identified (UPLC/T-TOF–MS/MS) Compounds in the Extract of Saussurea costus Roots Exhibit In Vivo Hepatoprotection via Modulation of HNF-1α, Sirtuin-1, C/ebpα, miRNA-34a and miRNA-223

Abstract

Saussurea costus is a plant traditionally used for the treatment of several ailments. Our study accomplished the UPLC/T-TOF–MS/MS analysis of a methanol extract of Saussurea costus roots (MESC), in addition to lipoidal matter determination and assessment of its in vivo hepatoprotective activity. In this study, we were able to identify the major metabolites in MESC rather than the previously known isolated compounds, improving our knowledge of its chemical constituents. The flavones apigenin, acacetin, baicalein, luteolin, and diosmetin, and the flavonol aglycones quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, gossypetin, and myricetin and/or their glycosides and glucuronic derivatives were the major identified compounds. The hepatoprotective activity of MESC was evaluated by measuring catalase activity using UV spectrophotometry, inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic markers using ELISA techniques, and genetic markers using PCR. Paracetamol toxicity caused a significant increase in plasma caspase 2, cytokeratin 18 (CK18), liver tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), miRNA-34a, and miRNA-223, as well as a significant decrease in liver catalase (CAT) activity and in the levels of liver nuclear factor 1α (HNF-1α), sirtuin-1, and C/ebpα. Oral pretreatment with MESC (200 mg/kg) showed a significant decrease in caspase 2, CK18, TNF-α, IL-6 and a significant increase in liver CAT activity. MESC decreased the levels of liver miRNA-34a and miRNA-223 and induced HNF-1α, sirtuin-1, and C/ebpα gene expression. The histological examination showed a significant normalization in rats pretreated with MESC. Our findings showed that Saussurea costus may exert a potent hepatoprotective activity through the modulation of the expression of cellular cytokines, miRNA-34a, and miRNA-223.

Anti-Struvite, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch Asteraceae

“…The roots of S.costus were collected in the Himalayan region, in Jammu (52°15′ N, 7°06′ W) and exported to Morocco on 15 March 2021. This plant was authenticated at the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, University Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah of Fez, Morocco (voucher specimen n° LERH-SC/15-03-21) [ 19 ].…”

“…The filtered extracts were then evaporated under vacuum using a rotary evaporator. The ethanolic extract had an extraction yield of 18.79 ± 0.01 and the aqueous extract had an extraction yield of 28.41± 0.01 [ 19 ].…”

“…S. costus is an herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family native to Asia which has been used to treat various pathologies in traditional medicine [ 17 , 18 , 19 ]. It contains several molecules, including quercitrin flavonoids and alkaloids ( Figure 1 ), with activities against calcium oxalate type urinary lithiasis [ 20 ].…”

Antioxidant and Anti-Urolithiatic Activity of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts from Saussurea costus (Falc) Lispich Using Scanning Electron Microscopy

“…The medicinal plant Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch was chosen to treat lithogenesis [ 18 ] as it contains chemical compounds that are known to be effective against urinary stones such as saponins [ 19 ] and flavanols. The latter is a subclass that contains many phytochemicals such as quercetin [ 20 ] and its derivatives (quercetin glycuronide, quercetin pentocide, and quercetin hexoside) [ 21 ]. This plant has been used in traditional medicine to treat kidney stones [ 18 , 22 ].…”

“…Furthermore, Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch is widely used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of ailments. Various pharmacological experiments have conclusively demonstrated Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch’s ability to exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-cancer, and hepatoprotective activities [ 21 ], which justifies its traditional uses [ 20 , 21 , 22 ]. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antilithiatic activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of this plant.…”