Urine and plasma metabolomics study on potential hepatoxic biomarkers identification in rats induced by Gynura segetum

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevanceGynura segetum (GS) is an herbal medicine containing Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids (PAs) that causes hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS). Aim of the studyTo discover potential biomarkers and metabolic mechanisms involved in the hepatotoxicity induced by GS. MethodsSD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups including Saline, the decoction of GS high, medium and low dosage at dosages of 3.75g • kg−1, 7.5g • kg−1 and 15g • kg−1. A metabolomics approach using Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography -Quadrupole-Time-of-Flight / Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) was developed to perform the plasma and urinary metabolic profiling analysis, and identified differential metabolites by comparing the saline control group and decoction of GS groups. ResultsThe herbal was presented dosage-dependent led to ingravescence of hepatotoxicity after the rats were consecutively given with the decoction of GS at varied dosages. A total of 18 differential metabolites of decoction of GS-induced hepatotoxicity were identified, while 10 of them including arginine, proline, glutamate, creatine, valine, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, sphinganine, phytosphingosine, and citric acid could be discovered in urine and plasma, and primarily involved in Amino acid metabolism, Lipids metabolism and Energy metabolism. ConclusionsThe results suggested that the differential metabolites of arginine, creatine, valine, glutamine and citric acid were verified as potential markers of GS-induced hepatotoxicity via the regulation of multiple metabolic pathways primarily involving in Amino acids metabolism and Energy metabolism.