Treatment Of Liver Disease Research Articles

Liver-boosting potential: chicory compound-mediated silver nanoparticles for hepatoprotection-biochemical and histopathological insights.

Background: Liver disease is a serious health concern in today's world, posing a challenge to both healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies. Most synthetic drugs and chemicals cause liver damage accounting for approximately 10% of acute hepatitis and 50% of acute liver failure. Purpose: The present study aimed to evaluate the hepato-protective activity of an extract of chicory formulation assisted by silver nanoparticles against carbon tetra chloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic damage in rat's liver. Methods: Rats of the Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) were used to test the in vivo hepato-protective efficacy at various doses. Rats were randomly divided into nine groups, each containing six rats. The groups were as follows: first group (control), second group (CCl4), third group, silymarin (20mg/kg of body weight), fourth group (CCl4+chicory) (1.75mg/kg of b. wt), fifth group (CCl4 + chicory at the dose of 2.35mg/kg), sixth group (CCl4 + chicory of 3.25mg/kg), seventh group (CCl4 +AgNPs 1.75mg/kg of b. wt.), eighth group (CCl4 + AgNPs 2.35mg/kg of body weight), and ninth group (CCl4 + AgNPs 3.25mg/kg of b. wt.). Blood samples were taken 24h after the last administration (i.e., 30th day). The blood samples were analyzed for different serum enzymes such as ALP (alkaline phosphatase), ALT (alanine transaminase), bilirubin (Blr), triglyceride, and cholesterol. Histology liver sections were performed. Results: Treatment with AgNPs and chicory extract showed significant hepato-protective activity in a dose-dependent manner. In three doses, the chicory extract at a rate of 3.25mg/kg of body weight significantly reduced elevated levels of biochemical markers in comparison to CCl4-intoxicated rats. Histology of the liver sections from CCl4-treated rats revealed inflammation of hepatocytes, necrosis, cytoplasmic degeneration, vacuolization, and a deformed central vein. The chicory formulation extract exhibited a remarkable recovery percentage in the liver architecture that was higher than the drug (i.e., silymarin). While treatment with AgNPs also repaired the degenerative changes and restored the normal form of the liver, chicory formulation extract possessed more hepato-protective potential as compared to AgNPs by regulating biochemical and histo-pathological parameters. Conclusion: This study can be used as confirmation of the hepato-protective potential of chicory compounds for possible use in the development programs of drugs to treat liver diseases.

Artificial intelligence in liver imaging: methods and applications.

Liver disease is regarded as one of the major health threats to humans. Radiographic assessments hold promise in terms of addressing the current demands for precisely diagnosing and treating liver diseases, and artificial intelligence (AI), which excels at automatically making quantitative assessments of complex medical image characteristics, has made great strides regarding the qualitative interpretation of medical imaging by clinicians. Here, we review the current state of medical-imaging-based AI methodologies and their applications concerning the management of liver diseases. We summarize the representative AI methodologies in liver imaging with focusing on deep learning, and illustrate their promising clinical applications across the spectrum of precise liver disease detection, diagnosis and treatment. We also address the current challenges and future perspectives of AI in liver imaging, with an emphasis on feature interpretability, multimodal data integration and multicenter study. Taken together, it is revealed that AI methodologies, together with the large volume of available medical image data, might impact the future of liver disease care.

Sodium Selenite Prevents Matrine-Induced Nephrotoxicity by Suppressing Ferroptosis via the GSH-GPX4 Antioxidant System.

Matrine (MT), an active ingredient derived from Sophor flavescens Ait, is used as a therapeutic agent to treat liver disease and cancer. However, the serious toxic effects of MT, including nephrotoxicity, have limited its clinical application. Here, we explored the involvement of ferroptosis in MT-induced kidney injury and evaluated the potential efficacy and underlying mechanism of sodium selenite (SS) in attenuating MT-induced nephrotoxicity. We found that MT not only disrupts renal structure in mice but also induces the death of NRK-52E cells. Additionally, MT treatment resulted in significant elevations in ferrous iron, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels, accompanied by decreases in glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. SS effectively mitigated the alterations in ferroptosis-related indicators caused by MT and prevented MT-induced nephrotoxicity as effectively as Fer-1 in vivo and in vitro. SS also reversed the MT-induced reduction in GPX4, CTH and xCT protein levels. However, the glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inhibitor RSL3 and knockdown of GPX4, CTH, or xCT via siRNA abolished the protective effect of SS against MT-induced nephrotoxicity, indicating that SS exhibited antiferroptotic effects via the GSH-GPX4 antioxidant system. Overall, MT-induced ferroptosis triggers nephrotoxicity, and SS is a promising therapeutic drug for alleviating MT-induced renal injury by activating the GSH-GPX4 axis.

Native and engineered extracellular vesicles: novel tools for treating liver disease.

Liver diseases are classified as acute liver damage and chronic liver disease, with recurring liver damage causing liver fibrosis and progression to cirrhosis and hepatoma. Liver transplantation is the only effective treatment for end-stage liver diseases; therefore, novel therapies are required. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are endogenous nanocarriers involved in cell-to-cell communication that play important roles in immune regulation, tissue repair and regeneration. Native EVs can potentially be used for various liver diseases owing to their high biocompatibility, low immunogenicity and tissue permeability and engineered EVs with surface modification or cargo loading could further optimize therapeutic effects. In this review, we firstly introduced the mechanisms and effects of native EVs derived from different cells and tissues to treat liver diseases of different etiologies. Additionally, we summarized the possible methods to facilitate liver targeting and improve cargo-loading efficiency. In the treatment of liver disease, the detailed engineered methods and the latest delivery strategies were also discussed. Finally, we pointed out the limitations and challenges of EVs for future development and applications. We hope that this review could provide a useful reference for the development of EVs and promote the clinical translation.

A review of Phyllanthus urinaria L. in the treatment of liver disease: viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Due to the pathological production of liver disease in utility particularly complexity, the morbidity and mortality of liver disease including viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rapidly increasing worldwide. Considering its insidious onset, rapid progression and drug resistance, finding an effective therapy is particularly worthwhile. Phyllanthus urinaria L. (P. urinaria), an ethnic medicine, can be applied at the stages of viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and HCC, which demonstrates great potential in the treatment of liver disease. Currently, there are numerous reports on the application of P. urinaria in treating liver diseases, but a detailed analysis of its metabolites and a complete summary of its pharmacological mechanism are still scarce. In this review, the phytochemical metabolites and ethnopharmacological applications of P. urinaria are summarized. Briefly, P. urinaria mainly contains flavonoids, lignans, tannins, phenolic acids, terpenoids and other metabolites. The mechanisms of P. urinaria are mainly reflected in reducing surface antigen secretion and interfering with DNA polymerase synthesis for anti-viral hepatitis activity, reducing hepatic stellate cells activity, inflammation and oxidative stress for anti-liver fibrosis/cirrhosis activity, as well as preventing tumor proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis for anti-HCC activity via relevant signaling pathways. Accordingly, this review provides insights into the future application of natural products in the trilogy of liver diseases and will provide a scientific basis for further research and rational utilization of P. urinaria.

Hepatocyte-like cells and liver organoids: the application of iPSCs and their derivants for treating liver diseases

Liver diseases have become a great burden to human health because of their high morbidity and mortality rates.

Implementation of ADABOOST Algorithm on C50 for Improving the Performance of Liver Disease Classification

The liver is a vital organ that is important for humans because it plays a role in regulating hormone cycles, neutralizing toxins, and controlling the composition of blood. Liver disease is a common ailment worldwide. Often, this disease occurs without specific symptoms (asymptomatic). Therefore, liver disease is known as a "silent killer," and it is necessary to quickly and accurately diagnose and treat liver diseases. Data mining technology can be useful for rapidly detecting liver diseases from laboratory diagnosis results. One classification algorithm that can be used is the C50 algorithm. This algorithm is an improvement over the previous C45 algorithm, with several advantages such as efficient memory usage and more concise tree results. However, the C50 algorithm may experience overfitting on complex medical data, requiring the boosting process using AdaBoost. The AdaBoost algorithm can make the C50 algorithm more susceptible to overfitting. Another advantage of the AdaBoost algorithm is its ability to handle imbalanced datasets in terms of target labels. This research used 583 data from UCI machine learning with two target labels: liver and normal. The research results show that the C50 algorithm is capable of identification with an accuracy rate of 74.58%. Furthermore, the C50 algorithm's accuracy can be maximized by AdaBoost to reach 86.44%

Exploring the effectiveness of flavone derivatives for treating liver diseases: Utilizing DFT, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics techniques

In exploring nature's potential in addressing liver-related conditions, this study investigates the therapeutic capabilities of flavonoids. Utilizing in silico methodologies, we focus on flavone and its analogs (1–14) to assess their therapeutic potential in treating liver diseases. Molecular change calculations using density functional theory (DFT) were conducted on these compounds, accompanied by an evaluation of each analog's physiochemical and biochemical properties. The study further assesses these flavonoids' binding effectiveness and locations through molecular docking studies against six target proteins associated with human cancer. Tropoflavin and taxifolin served as reference drugs. The structurally modified flavone analogs (1–14) displayed a broad range of binding affinities, ranging from -7.0 to -9.4 kcal mol⁻¹, surpassing the reference drugs. Notably, flavonoid (7) exhibited significantly higher binding affinities with proteins Nrf2 (PDB:1 × 2 J) and DCK (PDB:1 × 2 J) (-9.4 and -8.1 kcal mol⁻¹) compared to tropoflavin (-9.3 and -8.0 kcal mol⁻¹) and taxifolin (-9.4 and -7.1 kcal mol⁻¹), respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that the docked complexes had a root mean square deviation (RMSD) value ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 nm and a root mean square fluctuation (RMSF) value between 0.35 and 1.3 nm during perturbation. The study concludes that 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (7) shows substantial promise as a potential therapeutic agent for liver-related conditions. However, further validation through in vitro and in vivo studies is necessary.Key insights from this study include:•Screening of flavanols and their derivatives to determine pharmacological and bioactive properties using ADMET, molinspiration, and pass prediction analysis.•Docking of shortlisted flavone derivatives with proteins having essential functions.•Analysis of the best protein-flavonoid docked complexes using molecular dynamics simulation to determine the flavonoid's efficiency and stability within a system.

Biological activity spectra of the main phytochemicals of Silybum marianum L. Gaertn. by in silico study

The main objective of bioinformatics is to augment the perception of biological data. Bioinformatics gains information from computer analysis of biological practices. Biologically active principles have both pharmaceutical and adverse effects on the organisms. PASS (Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances) software is used to estimate the general efficacy and safety of the phytochemicals. PASS simultaneously predicts several hundreds of biological activities of natural and synthetic chemical compounds. The average precision of prediction is about 90%. The extract from the seed of Silybum marianum contains silymarin, which is a complex mixture of polyphenolic molecules, including seven closely related flavonolignans, namely, silybin A, silybin B, isosilybin A, isosilybin B, silychristin, isosilychristin, silydianin and one flavonoid namely taxifolin. Silymarin has been used to treat various hepatic diseases, including chronic and acute liver diseases in canines and felines. It is used as a nutritional supplement to treat liver diseases and toxicities and prevent certain cancers in companion animals. In the present study, the main phytochemicals reported from Silybum marianum L. Gaertn. were subjected to in-silico evaluation using PASS software. The methods, biological activity spectra and significance of the in-silico study are discussed. Keywords: Efficacy, In Silico, PASS, Phytochemicals, Silybum marianum, Toxicity

Strategies to improve the therapeutic efficacy of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicle (MSC-EV): a promising cell-free therapy for liver disease.

Liver disease has emerged as a significant worldwide health challenge due to its diverse causative factors and therapeutic complexities. The majority of liver diseases ultimately progress to end-stage liver disease and liver transplantation remains the only effective therapy with the limitations of donor organ shortage, lifelong immunosuppressants and expensive treatment costs. Numerous pre-clinical studies have revealed that extracellular vesicles released by mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-EV) exhibited considerable potential in treating liver diseases. Although natural MSC-EV has many potential advantages, some characteristics of MSC-EV, such as heterogeneity, uneven therapeutic effect, and rapid clearance in vivo constrain its clinical translation. In recent years, researchers have explored plenty of ways to improve the therapeutic efficacy and rotation rate of MSC-EV in the treatment of liver disease. In this review, we summarized current strategies to enhance the therapeutic potency of MSC-EV, mainly including optimization culture conditions in MSC or modifications of MSC-EV, aiming to facilitate the development and clinical application of MSC-EV in treating liver disease.

A polysaccharide from Alhagi honey protects the intestinal barrier and regulates the Nrf2/HO-1-TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway to treat alcoholic liver disease in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAccording to the theory of traditional Chinese medicine, the main factors related to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) are qi stagnation and blood stasis of the five viscera. Previously, we showed that the bioactive components of Alhagi honey have various pharmacological effects in treating liver diseases, but the influence of Alhagi honey on ALD (and its mechanism of action) is not known. Aim of the studyTo determine the efficacy of the main active component of Alhagi honey, the polysaccharide AHPN80, in ALD and to explore the potential mechanism of action. Materials and methodsAHPN80 was isolated from dried Alhagi honey and identified by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography. Venous blood, liver tissue, and colon tissue were collected in a mouse model of alcohol-induced acute liver injury. Histology, staining (Oil Red O, Alcian Blue–Periodic Acid Schiff) and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were used to detect histopathologic and lipid-accumulation changes in the liver and colon. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels and the content of proinflammatory cytokines in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Commercial kits were employed to detect biochemistry parameters in serum and the liver. A terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining kit was used to identify hepatocyte apoptosis. Expression of tight junction-associated proteins in colon tissues and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1/toll-like receptor-4/mitogen-activated protein kinase (Nrf2/HO-1/TLR4/MAPK) pathway-related proteins in liver tissues and HepG2 cells were analyzed by immunofluorescence or western blotting. ResultsIn a mouse model of alcohol-induced acute liver injury, AHPN80 therapy: significantly improved liver parameters (cytochrome P450 2E1, alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, total cholesterol, triglycerides, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase); reduced serum levels of LPS, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis faction-α; increased levels of IL-10 and interferon-gamma. AHPN80 reduced ALD-induced lipid accumulation and ROS production, improved alcohol-induced inflammatory damage to hepatocytes, and inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis. Immunofluorescence staining and western blotting suggested that AHPN80 might eliminate hepatic oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, repair the intestinal barrier, inhibit the LPS/TLR4/MAPK signaling pathway, and reduce liver inflammation. ConclusionsAHPN80 may activate the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to eliminate oxidative stress, protect the intestinal barrier, and regulate the TLR4/MAPK pathway to treat ALD in mice. AHPN80 could be a functional food and natural medicine to prevent ALD and its complications.

Traditional Chinese medicine Pien-Tze-Huang ameliorates LPS-induced sepsis through bile acid-mediated activation of TGR5-STAT3-A20 signalling

Pien Tze Huang (PZH), a class-1 nationally protected traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), has been used to treat liver diseases such as hepatitis; however, the effect of PZH on the progression of sepsis is unknown. Here, we reported that PZH attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis in mice and reduced LPS-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages by inhibiting the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signalling. Mechanistically, PZH stimulated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation to induce the expression of A20, which could inhibit the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signalling. Knockdown of the bile acid (BA) receptor G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (TGR5) in macrophages abolished the effects of PZH on STAT3 phosphorylation and A20 induction, as well as the LPS-induced inflammatory response, suggesting that BAs in PZH may mediate its anti-inflammatory effects by activating TGR5. Consistently, deprivation of BAs in PZH by cholestyramine resin reduced the effects of PZH on the expression of phosphorylated-STAT3 and A20, the activation of NF-κB and MAPK signalling, and the production of proinflammatory cytokines, whereas the addition of BAs to cholestyramine resin-treated PZH partially restored the inhibitory effects on the production of proinflammatory cytokines. Overall, our study identifies BAs as the effective components in PZH that activate TGR5-STAT3-A20 signalling to ameliorate LPS-induced sepsis.

Effects of Hovenia dulcis fruit and peduncle extract on alcohol metabolism

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe dried fruit and peduncle of Hovenia dulcis Thunberg (Rhamnaceae) (HD) has been used as a folk medicine to treat liver disease, detoxify alcoholism, and prevent and cure hangovers. Aim of the studyWe investigated the pharmacology of HD on the kinetics of EtOH and on the enzymes related to alcohol metabolism to seek the scientific evidence of HD to prevent hangover, the effectiveness as a folk medicine. Materials and methodsEtOH was orally administered 30 min after oral administration of HD boiling water extract in rats. Then, the profiles of blood EtOH concentrations were measured. Mice were reared with food containing powdered HD for 7 days, and the activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) in liver were measured. Hepa1c1c7 cells were cultured with the medium containing HD extract, and the activities of ADH and ALDH were measured. ResultsHD extract reduced the blood EtOH concentrations in rats and induced the activities of ADH and ALDH and mRNA and protein expressions of ADH1B, ALDH1A1, and ALDH2 in the liver of mice and Hepa1c1c7 cells. Dihydromyricetin, one of the ingredients of HD, significantly induced the activities of ADH and ALDH in Hepa1c1c7 cells, however, the fractions containing hydrophilic organic compounds with small molecular weight contributed the most of the activities of HD extract. ConclusionsWe clarified the experimental pharmacological evidences of HD as a folk medicine to detoxify alcoholism and prevent hangovers.

Quantitative comparison on the similarities and differences of Mongolian medicines in the treatment of liver diseases between China and Mongolia based on data mining

Abstract Objective The R language was used to quantitatively compare the medication patterns of Mongolian medicines used for the treatment of liver diseases between China and Mongolia, with a view to provide a reference for the research and clinical application of Mongolian medicines in the treatment of liver diseases. Methods The Mongolian medicinal prescriptions used for treating liver disease in Mongolia were collected from the Mongolian Pharmacy and Mongolian Treatment Guide for Common diseases in Mongolian Medicine, and those used in China were collected from the Inner Mongolia Standard for Mongolian Proprietary Medicine and Annotation of Mongolian Medicine Preparation Specifications. After the database was established, the frequency, properties, and tastes of the Mongolian medicines were analyzed, and R studio was used for the association rules analysis and cluster analysis. Results A total of 27 prescriptions used in Inner Mongolia, China, were collected involving 105 Mongolian medicines, with a total frequency of 284. Among them, there were 18 high-frequency medicines (frequency ≥5), which had a frequency of 147, accounting for 51.76% of the total frequency. The medicine with the highest frequency (14, 4.93%) was Carthamus tinctorius L.. The analysis of the medicine data in China revealed 15 association rules. A total of 21 prescriptions used in Mongolia were collected, involving 92 Mongolian medicines, with a total frequency of 254. Among them, there were 17 high-frequency (frequency ≥5) medicines, with a total frequency of 124 (48.82%). The medicine with the highest frequency (13, 5.12%) was Carthamus tinctorius L.. The analysis of the medicine data in Mongolia revealed 79 association rules. In both regions, the high-frequency medicines used for treating liver disease commonly had cool or warm property with bitter or sweet taste. Conclusions Carthamus tinctorius L., Terminalia chebula Retz., and other Mongolian medicines are commonly used to treat liver diseases in Inner Mongolia and Mongolia. The Mongolian medicines with cool or warm property and bitter, sweet, or astringent taste are commonly used to protect the liver.

VEGFA mRNA-LNP promotes biliary epithelial cell-to-hepatocyte conversion in acute and chronic liver diseases and reverses steatosis and fibrosis

The liver is known for its remarkable regenerative ability through proliferation of hepatocytes. Yet, during chronic injury or severe hepatocyte death, proliferation of hepatocytes is exhausted. To overcome this hurdle, we propose vascular-endothelial-growth-factor A (VEGFA) as a therapeutic means to accelerate biliary epithelial-cell (BEC)-to-hepatocyte conversion. Investigation in zebrafish establishes that blocking VEGF receptors abrogates BEC-driven liver repair, while VEGFA overexpression promotes it. Delivery of VEGFA via nonintegrative and safe nucleoside-modified mRNA encapsulated into lipid nanoparticles (mRNA-LNPs) in acutely or chronically injured mouse livers induces robust BEC-to-hepatocyte conversion and elimination of steatosis and fibrosis. In human and murine diseased livers, we further identified VEGFA-receptor KDR-expressing BECs associated with KDR-expressing cell-derived hepatocytes. This work defines KDR-expressing cells, most likely being BECs, as facultative progenitors. This study reveals unexpected therapeutic benefits of VEGFA delivered via nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP, whose safety is widely validated with COVID-19 vaccines, for harnessing BEC-driven repair to potentially treat liver diseases.

Predictive toxicological effects of Artemisia absinthium essential oil on hepatic stellate cells

Medicinal plants are important worldwide, considering their properties for treating diseases; however, few studies have evaluated their toxicological potential. Among them, Artemisia absinthium is frequently used to treat liver diseases, because its essential oil has several popular therapeutic properties. Based on this information, in the present study, we investigated molecular connectors of physiological effects of the Artemisia absinthium essential oil on human hepatic stellate cell line, LX-2, to explore the potential toxicity of the plant on liver cells. LX-2 is a cellular model to investigate mechanisms of liver fibrosis; then, to analyze the essential oil effects LX-2 was cultured under different conditions, treated or not with the essential oil at 0.4 μg/μL for 24 h. Next, fluorescence microscopy analyses, gene expression measurements, and biochemical approaches revealed that the essential oil reduced pro-fibrogenic markers; however, disrupt lipid metabolism, and cause cellular stress, by the activation of cellular detoxification and pro-inflammatory processes. In conclusion, the hepatic stellate cells incubated with the essential oil present an antifibrotic potential, supporting its popular use; however, the combined results suggest that the essential oil of Artemisia absinthium should be used with caution.

Alternatives to animal testing to assess MASH drugs and hepatotoxicity.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Modernization Act 2.0 "allows for alternatives to animal testing for purposes of drug and biological product applications." This provides an opportunity to develop and improve alternatives to animal studies to assess drugs in the liver. Two-dimensional cultures of liver cells fail to maintain their differentiated state and fail to reproduce liver disease phenotypes. Therefore, several platforms using human liver cells are being developed either to (1) assess hepatotoxicity of drugs or (2) create "diseases in a dish" to assess the effectiveness of drugs in treating liver diseases, primarily focused on treating MASH. The technological approaches include precision cut liver slices, human liver spheroids, human liver organoids, bioprinted human liver tissues, and microphysiological systems. This review evaluates each of these technologies and their role in providing alternatives to testing in animals.

Ethanol extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall ameliorates psoriasis-like skin inflammation and promotes degradation of keratinocyte-derived ICAM-1 and CXCL9

ObjectiveTo explore whether the ethanol extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall (EHC), a Xizang medicinal plant traditionally used for treating liver diseases, can improve imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation. MethodsImmunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the effects of topical EHC use in vivo on the skin pathology of imiquimod-induced psoriasis in mice. The protein levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in mouse skin samples were examined using immunohistochemical staining. In vitro, IFN-γ-induced HaCaT cells with or without EHC treatment were used to evaluate the expression of keratinocyte-derived intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and chemokine CXC ligand 9 (CXCL9) using Western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and proteasome inhibitor MG132 were utilized to validate the EHC-mediated mechanism underlying degradation of ICAM-1 and CXCL9. ResultsEHC improved inflammation in the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model and reduced the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17A in psoriatic lesions. Treatment with EHC also suppressed ICAM-1 and CXCL9 in epidermal keratinocytes. Further mechanistic studies revealed that EHC suppressed keratinocyte-derived ICAM-1 and CXCL9 by promoting ubiquitin–proteasome-mediated protein degradation rather than transcriptional repression. Seven primary compounds including ehletianol C, dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, herpetrione, herpetin, herpetotriol, herpetetrone and herpetetrol were identified from the EHC using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry. ConclusionTopical application of EHC ameliorates psoriasis-like skin symptoms and improves the inflammation at the lesion sites.Please cite this article as: Zhong Y, Zhang BW, Li JT, Zeng X, Pei JX, Zhang YM, Yang YX, Li FL, Deng Y, Zhao Q. Ethanol extract of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall ameliorates psoriasis-like skin inflammation and promotes degradation of keratinocyte-derived ICAM-1 and CXCL9. J Integr Med. 2023; Epub ahead of print.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold's Leaf through the Inhibition of p38/JNK/AP-1 Signaling.

Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold (CJ) branch bark, commonly known as Japanese cinnamon, has been used for various culinary and medicinal applications for many centuries. Although the efficacy of CJ branch bark's anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity for the treatment of various diseases has been confirmed, the efficacy of CJ leaves (CJLs) has not been examined. We therefore investigated whether CJL3, an ethyl acetate extract of a 70% ethanol CJL extract, exerts anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated Kupffer cells, specialized macrophages found in the liver. Liver inflammation can activate Kupffer cells, inducing the release of pro-inflammatory molecules that contribute to tissue damage. We found that CJL3 has high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical-scavenging activity. Among the CJL extracts, CJL3 exhibited the greatest polyphenol content, with protocatechuic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid being the most abundant. In addition, we verified that CJL3, which has strong antioxidant properties, ameliorates LPS-induced pro-inflammatory responses by inhibiting p38/JNK/AP-1 signaling. CJL3 therefore has potential for treating liver disease, including hepatitis.

Mniszek (Taraxacum) w fitoterapii europejskiej i azjatyckiej

Dandelion (Taraxacum) in European and Asian phytotherapy The genus Taraxacum (family Asteraceae) belongs to the largest and most complicated apomictic complexes. So far, over 2,800 species classified in 60 sections have been described. The natural range of the genus is almost cosmopolitan, with monk seals found on every continent except Antarctica, but their distribution is very uneven. The largest centers of Taraxacum diversity are in Central Asia and Southern Europe. Species belonging to the genus Taraxacum have long been used as food. Young leaves are eaten raw in salads, and dried as an addition to teas or used as spices. Dried roots are used to prepare teas and a coffee substitute, while the flowers and infl orescences are used to produce syrups, wines and are added to beers and soft drinks. Above all, however, dandelions are valued herbal plants since ancient times, used in traditional European, Chinese and Indian medicine to treat liver diseases, kidney stones, stomach diseases, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cough, bladder diseases, gout, edema, and even cancerous. In the modern, very rich scientific literature, the medicinal properties of dandelions have been partially confirmed, but the results are often ambiguous and in some cases contradictory.