Swertia cincta Burkill alleviates LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver failure by modulating apoptosis and oxidative stress signaling pathways

• Published in: Aging (Albany, NY.) Vol. 15; no. 12; pp. 5887 - 5916
• Main Authors: Wu, Xinyan, Zheng, Xiaomei, Wen, Qiqi, Zhang, Yang, Tang, Huaqiao, Zhao, Ling, Shi, Fei, Li, Yinglun, Yin, Zhongqiong, Zou, Yuanfeng, Song, Xu, Li, Lixia, Zhao, Xinghong, Ye, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Impact Journals 27-06-2023
• Subjects: Apoptosis; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Humans; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Liver Failure, Acute - chemically induced; Liver Failure, Acute - drug therapy; Oxidative Stress; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases - metabolism; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt - metabolism; Research Paper; Signal Transduction; Swertia - metabolism; apoptosis; Swertia cincta Burkill extract; acute liver failure; network pharmacology; oxidative stress
• ISSN: 1945-4589; 1945-4589
• DOI: 10.18632/aging.204848

Burkill is widely distributed along the southwestern region of China. It is known as "Dida" in Tibetan and "Qingyedan" in Chinese medicine. It was used in folk medicine to treat hepatitis and other liver diseases. To understand how
Burkill extract (ESC) protects against acute liver failure (ALF), firstly, the active ingredients of ESC were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and further screening. Next, network pharmacology analyses were performed to identify the core targets of ESC against ALF and further determine the potential mechanisms. Finally,
experiments as well as
experiments were conducted for further validation. The results revealed that 72 potential targets of ESC were identified using target prediction. The core targets were ALB, ERBB2, AKT1, MMP9, EGFR, PTPRC, MTOR, ESR1, VEGFA, and HIF1A. Next, KEGG pathway analysis showed that EGFR and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways could have been involved in ESC against ALF. ESC exhibits hepatic protective functions via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects. Therefore, the EGFR-ERK, PI3K-AKT, and NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathways could participate in the therapeutic effects of ESC on ALF.