Abstract
Lomatogonium rotatum (L.) Fries ex Nym (LR) is used as a traditional Mongolian medicine to treat liver and bile diseases. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of LR on mice with CCl4-induced acute liver injury through conventional assays and metabolomics analysis. This study consisted of male mice (n = 23) in four groups (i.e., control, model, positive control, and LR). The extract of whole plant of LR was used to treat mice in the LR group. Biochemical and histological assays (i.e., serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST), and histological changes of liver tissue) were used to evaluate LR efficacy, and metabolomics analysis based on GC-MS and LC-MS was conducted to reveal metabolic changes. The conventional analysis and metabolomic profiles both suggested that LR treatment could protect mice against CCl4-induced acute liver injury. The affected metabolic pathways included linoleic acid metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, CoA biosynthesis, glycerophospholipid metabolism, the TCA cycle, and purine metabolism. This study identified eight metabolites, including phosphopantothenic acid, succinic acid, AMP, choline, glycerol 3-phosphate, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and DHA, as potential biomarkers for evaluating hepatoprotective effect of LR. This metabolomics study may shed light on possible mechanisms of hepatoprotective effect of LR.
Highlights
Natural medicines have been continuously studied and utilized to treat various diseases, including liver diseases [1,2,3]
This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of LR on mice with CCl4 -induced acute liver injury through comprehensive evaluation of biochemical and histological assays, metabolic changes, and metabolic pathway analysis
Transaminase can be released into blood when liver cells are injured by CCl4, of which process the typical indicators are elevated levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) in serum [23]
Summary
Natural medicines have been continuously studied and utilized to treat various diseases, including liver diseases [1,2,3]. One well-known natural habitat of LR is the central and eastern Inner Mongolia, which has a long history of utilizing LR for treatment of diseases [5,6,7]. Being capable of clearing heat, eliminating dampness, and detoxification, LR is efficient in the treatment of various symptoms, such as hepatobiliary fever, headache, jaundice, and other diseases [6,7]. Previous studies have identified the bioactive compounds of LR, including xanthones, flavonoids, iridoids, glycosides, etc. A recent study revealed that flavonoids extracted
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