Exploring Protective Mechanism of Different Extracts of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]Against Liver Injury Induced by CCl4 Based on Nrf2-Keap1 Pathway
Objective To explore the protective mechanism of different extracts of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]on CCl4 induced liver injury.Methods 0.5%CCl4 peanut oil solution was used to establish a mouse liver inju-ry model.HE staining was used to observe liver lesions.The levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST),malondialdehyde(MDA),glutathione(GSH),superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)were detected by the kits.The protein levels of nuclear factor erythropoietin-2-related factor 2(Nrf2),Kelch like epichlorohydrin related protein-1(Keap1)and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1)were analyzed by Western blot.Results Compared with the model group,medium and high dose groups of water extract and alcohol extract of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]significantly decreased liver weight index and serum levels of ALT and AST(P<0.05,P<0.01).The contents of MDA,TNF-α,IL-6 and ROS in liver homogenate of mice in medium and high dose groups of water extract and alcohol extract of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]were significantly decreased(P<0.05,P<0.01),the activities of SOD and CAT were significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01)and GSH content was significantly increased(P<0.05,P<0.01).The effect of water extract of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium cau-datum(Thunb.)DC.]was better than that of alcohol extract.The high dose group of water extract of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]significantly improved the protein levels of Nrf2 and HO-1 and reduced Keap1 protein expression(P<0.05).Conclusion Different extracts of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]showed protective effects on mice with liver injury induced by CCl4 and the liver protection effect of water extract was better than that of alcohol extract.The mechanism of action was related to activating Nrf2-Keap1 pathway and alleviating oxidative stress reaction.
extracts of Xiaohuaihua[Desmodium caudatum(Thunb.)DC.]liver injuryNrf2-Keap1 pathwayoxidative stress