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Abstract: A compound was isolated from Centipeda minima using bioassay-guided screening. The structure of this compound was elucidated based on its spectral data, and it was identified as helenalin. The hepatoprotective effect of helenalin was evaluated using a liver fibrosis model induced by intragastric administration with alcohol within 24weeks in rats. The results revealed that helenalin significantly prevented alcohol-induced hepatic injury and fibrogenesis, as evidenced by the decrease in serum aminotransferase, the attenuation of histopathological changes, and the inhibition of the hepatic fibrosis indicators, such as hyaluronic acid, type III precollagen, laminin, hydroxyproline and collagen α type I. Mechanistically, studies showed that helenalin expedited ethanol metabolism by enhancing the alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase activities. Furthermore, helenalin alleviated lipid peroxidation, recruited the antioxidative defense system, inhibited CYP2E1 activity, and reduced the inflammatory mediators, including TGF-β1, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β and myeloperoxidase, via down-regulation of NF-κB. Helenalin significantly decreased collagen deposition by reducing the profibrotic cytokines like transforming growth factor-β, platelet-derived growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor, and promoted extracellular matrix degradation by modulating the levels of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9. In addition, helenalin inhibited HSC activation as evidenced by the down-regulation of α-SMA and TGF-β levels. In conclusion, helenalin had a significant protective effect on chronic ethanol-induced hepatic fibrosis and may be a major bioactive ingredient of C. minima. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Chinese prescription Fufang-Liu-Yue-Qing (FLYQ) has long been employed clinically to treat chronic hepatitis B, and we have reported its beneficial effects on liver fibrosis in vitro. The present study was investigated to verify protective effects of FLYQ on liver fibrosis in a rat model and to investigate the underlying mechanisms which have not been explored yet. Materials and methods: Liver fibrosis was established by intragastric administration of 2ml/kg CCl4 twice a week for 12 weeks. During the experiment, the model group received CCl4 only, and the normal control group received an equal volume of saline. Treatment groups received not only CCl4 for 12 weeks, but also the corresponding drugs, colchicine (1.00mg/kg/day) or FLYQ (300, 150, 75mg/kg/day) from 5 to 12 weeks. Results: Analysis experiments showed that FLYQ could significantly alleviate liver injury, as indicated by decreasing levels of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, IL-6 and TNF-α. Moreover, FLYQ could effectively inhibit collagen deposition and reduce the pathological tissue damage. Research on mechanism showed that FLYQ was able to markedly reduce lipid peroxidation, recruit the anti-oxidative defense system, promote ECM degradation by modulating the levels of TIMP-1 and MMP-2, and induce HSC apoptosis by down-regulating bcl-2 mRNA, as well as inhibit the expressions of α-SMA and TGF-β1 proteins. Conclusions: Our results show that FLYQ is effective in attenuating hepatic injury and fibrosis in the CCl4-induced rat model, which should be developed as a new drug for treatment of liver fibrosis and even cirrhosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Methyl helicterate is a triterpenoid isolated from Helicteres angustifolia (Sterculiaceae), one of the valuable traditional Chinese herbs. Antifibrotic activities of H. angustifolia have been extensively proved. Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of methyl helicterate (MH) on liver fibrosis in rats induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and to explore its underlying mechanism. Materials and methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced in male Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats by intragastric administration with 2ml/kg CCl4 (mixed 1:1 in peanut oil) twice a week for 12 weeks. To evaluate the effect of MH (16.72, 33.45, 66.90mg/kg) on hepatic fibrosis, liver function, histological study and hepatic fibrosis evaluation were performed. Liver function was assessed by determining the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), albumin (Alb) and total protein (TP). The biomarkers such as hydroxyproline (Hyp), hyaluronic acid (HA), type III precollagen (PCIII) and laminin (LN) were examined for the evaluation of hepatic fibrosis. The underlying mechanism was investigated by measuring oxidative stress level and detecting the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and Smad3 protein. Results: MH (33.45, 66.90mg/kg) treatment significantly inhibited the loss of body weight and the increase of liver index in rats induced by CCl4. MH also improved the liver function as indicated by decreasing serum enzymatic activities of ALT, AST, TP and Alb (P<0.05). Histological results indicated that MH alleviated liver damage and reduced the formation of fibrous septa. Moreover, MH significantly decreased liver Hyp, HA, LN and PCIII (P<0.05). Research on mechanism showed that MH could markedly reduce liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, increase activities of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and inhibit the expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and Smad3 protein (P<0.05). Conclusions: Our findings indicated that MH can inhibit CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, which may be ascribed to its radical scavenging action, antioxidant activity, and modulation of TGF-β-Smad3 signaling pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An isoflavone was isolated from Trifolium pratense using bioassay-guided screening. The structure of this natural compound was elucidated based on its spectral data, and it was identified as pratensein. The protective effect of pratensein was evaluated using a cognitive impairment model induced by injecting amyloid beta (1–42) (Aβ 1–42 ) into the bilateral hippocampus of rats. The results showed that pratensein treatment significantly protected against Aβ 1–42 -induced cognitive impairments, as evidenced by the improvement in learning and memory and the attenuation of neuronal degeneration and apoptosis in hippocampus. Analysis of the potential mechanisms of action showed that pratensein significantly decreased inflammatory indicators such as MDA, NO, nNOS, IL-1β and TNF-α. Pratensein markedly decreased the content and deposition of β-amyloid peptide through regulating the expressions of Aβ-related genes including APP, BACE1, CatB, NEP and IDE. Moreover, pratensein significantly increased the expressions of synapse plasticity-related proteins, i.e., PSD-95, p-NMDAR1, p-CaMKII, p-PKACβ, PKCγ, p-CREB and BDNF. In addition, pratensein significantly decreased the activity of cholinesterase, then subsequently elevated the level of acetylcholine. In summary, our study indicated that pratensein may have a likely protective effect against Alzheimer's disease (AD) via improving synaptic plasticity and increasing cholinesterase activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Yulangsan polysaccharide (YLSPS) is often used in popular folk medicine in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China as a chief ingredient of Millettia pulchra, which is used as an hepatic protection, anti-aging and memory improving agent. In this study, the hepatoprotective effects of YLSPS against isoniazid (INH) or rifampicin and isoniazid (RFP+INH)-induced liver injury were investigated in mice. Materials and methods: The liver injury was induced by intragastric administration of INH or RFP+INH daily for 10 days. During the experiment, the model group received INH or RFP+INH only, and the normal control group received an equal volume of saline. Treatment groups received not only INH or RFP+INH but also the corresponding drugs, DDB (200mg/kg/day) or YLSPS (100, 200, and 400mg/kg/day) 2h after the administration of INH or RFP+INH. Results: Analysis experiments showed that YLSPS significantly alleviated liver injury as indicated by the decreased levels of ALT and AST and the increased levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px. Moreover, YLSPS could effectively reduce the pathological tissue damage. The research on the mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective effect showed that YLSPS was able to reduce lipid peroxidation and activate the anti-oxidative defense system. Conclusion: Our results show that YLSPS is effective in attenuating hepatic injury in the INH or RFP+INH-induced mouse model, and could be developed as a new drug for treatment of liver injury. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]