Efficacy of Rhamnus utilis Decne. Aqueous extract in mice with acute alcoholic liver injury and metabolomic study

Rhamnus utilis Decne. (Family Rhamnaceae Juss.) leaf is commonly prepared as a anti-inflammatory herbal medicine and used for tea production. To investigate the mechanism of Rhamnus utilis Decne. aqueous extract (RDAE) against acute alcoholic liver disease (ALD) in mice. The ALD mouse (Male ICR) model was induced via intragastric administration of 52 % alcohol. Mice in each group were treated by gavage once daily with the RDAE (1.12, 2.25, 4.500 g/kg). The expression of proteins involved in the MAPKs/NF-κB/COX-2-iNOS pathway was measured by western blotting. Non-targeted metabolomics was used to determine metabolic profiles and critical pathways, while targeted metabolomics validated key amino acid metabolites. After administration of RDAE, the body mass of mice was significantly increased. The liver index was significantly decreased. Meanwhile, the serum levels of AST, ALT, TG, TC, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly decreased (P