Abstract
This study aimed at investigating the possible mechanisms of hepatic protective activity of Cichorium intybus L. (chicory) in acute liver injury. Pathological observation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection and measurements of biochemical indexes on mouse models proved hepatic protective effect of Cichorium intybus L. Identification of active compounds in Cichorium intybus L. was executed through several methods including ultra performance liquid chromatography/time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF-MS). Similarity ensemble approach (SEA) docking, molecular modeling, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation were applied in this study to explore possible mechanisms of the hepato-protective potential of Cichorium intybus L. We then analyzed the chemical composition of Cichorium intybus L., and found their key targets. Furthermore, in vitro cytological examination and western blot were used for validating the efficacy of the selected compounds. In silico analysis and western blot together demonstrated that selected compound 10 in Cichorium intybus L. targeted Akt-1 in hepatocytes. Besides, compound 13 targeted both caspase-1 and Akt-1. These small compounds may ameliorate liver injury by acting on their targets, which are related to apoptosis or autophagy. The conclusions above may shed light on the complex molecular mechanisms of Cichorium intybus L. acting on hepatocytes and ameliorating liver injury.
Highlights
Cichorium intybus L. is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family with both alimentary use and medicinal use
It can been seen from the figure that liver cells were arranged radially around the central veios in the normal control, while acute pathological changes occurred in liver injury model group, including centrilobular hepatic necrosis, the deformation of macrophage and ballooning, and a large number of inflammatory cells infiltration
By applying in silico analysis and experimental validation, our study has proven the hepato-protective effect of compounds 10 and 13 in Cichorium intybus L. and disclosed its possible molecular mechanisms, which may shed light on designing the drugs aimed at acute liver injury
Summary
Cichorium intybus L. ( known as chicory) is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family with both alimentary use and medicinal use. ( known as chicory) is a perennial herb from the Asteraceae family with both alimentary use and medicinal use. It is 40–100 cm in height, usually with bright blue flowers, rarely white or pink. It has been reported that fresh chicory typically contains 68% inulin, 14% sucrose, 5% cellulose, 6% protein, 4% ash, and 3% other compounds, while dried chicory contains approximately. 98% inulin and 2% other compounds [1]. It is worth noting that Cichorium intybus L. possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties according to the literature, including hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial, anti-diabetic effects, etc.
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