The zhuyu pill relieves rat cholestasis by regulating the mRNA expression of lipid and bile metabolism associated genes

Refining Drug-Induced Cholestasis Prediction: An Explainable Consensus Model Integrating Chemical and Biological Fingerprints

Effective drug safety assessment, guided by the 3R principle (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) to minimize animal testing, is critical in early drug development. Drug-induced liver injury (DILI), particularly drug-induced cholestasis (DIC), remains a major challenge. This study introduces a computational method for predicting DIC by integrating PubChem substructure fingerprints with biological data from liver-expressed targets and pathways, alongside nine hepatic transporter inhibition models. To address class imbalance in the public cholestasis data set, we employed undersampling, a technique that constructs a small and robust consensus model by evaluating distinct subsets. The most effective baseline model, which combined PubChem substructure fingerprints, pathway data and hepatic transporter inhibition predictions, achieved a Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) of 0.29 and a sensitivity of 0.79, as validated through 10-fold cross-validation. Subsequently, target prediction using four publicly available tools was employed to enrich the sparse compound-target interaction matrix. Although this approach showed lower sensitivity compared to experimentally derived targets and pathways, it highlighted the value of incorporating specific systems biology related information. Feature importance analysis identified albumin as a potential target linked to cholestasis within our predictive model, suggesting a connection worth further investigation. By employing an expanded consensus model and applying probability range filtering, the refined method achieved an MCC of 0.38 and a sensitivity of 0.80, thereby enhancing decision-making confidence. This approach advances DIC prediction by integrating biological and chemical descriptors, offering a reliable and explainable model.

Combination of Berberine and Evodiamine Alleviates Obesity by Promoting Browning in 3T3-L1 Cells and High-Fat Diet-Induced Mice

Traditional Chinese medicine has long acknowledged the therapeutic potential of Tetradium ruticarpum (A.Juss.) T.G.Hartley together with Coptis chinensis Franch in managing metabolic disorders. However, their combined anti-obesity effects and the underlying mechanisms remain poorly characterized. This study investigates the synergistic anti-obesity effects and mechanisms of a combined berberine and evodiamine treatment (BBE) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced C57BL/6J mice and 3T3-L1 cells. In vitro, cell viability was evaluated using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), while lipid accumulation was assessed through Oil Red O staining and triglyceride content determination. Molecular docking simulations performed with AutoDockTools 1.5.6 software Vina predicted interactions between BBE and key proteins. The analysis of genes and proteins involved in browning and thermogenesis was conducted using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. In vivo, HFD-induced mice were assessed for serum lipids profiles, glucose, insulin, adipocytokines, fat tissue morphology (Hematoxylin and eosin staining), mitochondrial activity (flow cytometry), and protein expression (immunofluorescence). Molecular docking analysis revealed strong binding affinities between BBE and key target proteins, including UCP1, PGC-1α, PRDM16, CIDEA, FGF21, and FGFR1c. BBE significantly reduced lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells, upregulated the mRNA expression of Prdm16, Cidea, Ucp1, and Dio2, elevated UCP1 and PGC-1α protein levels, and activated the FGF21/PGC-1α signaling pathway. In HFD-induced mice, BBE administration led to reduced body weight, smaller adipocyte size, increased adipocyte number, and alleviated hepatic steatosis. Furthermore, it lowered serum total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and levels of triglycerides (TG), while simultaneously increasing concentrations of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). BBE also improved glucose tolerance, reduced fasting insulin levels, and modulated adipocytokine levels (reduced leptin, increased adiponectin), while promoting browning gene and protein expression. Overall, the combination of berberine and evodiamine mitigates obesity by enhancing browning and activating the FGF21/PGC-1α signaling pathway.

Psoraleae Fructus affects the livers of normal and ulcerative colitis rats differently by altering bile acid metabolism

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Psoraleae Fructus (PF), the dried mature fruit of the leguminous plant Psoralea corylifolia L., is often used as a nutraceutical and to treat ulcerative colitis (UC). However, recently there have been reports of PF-induced liver injury.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the difference and mechanism of hepatotoxicity between normal and UC rats oral administration with PF, and clarify the relationship between PF risk and disease status.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PF water extracts (at the human equivalent dosage and 8-fold greater; 0.7 and 5.6 g/kg/day, respectively) were given to normal and UC rats for 4 weeks, and the general behaviors and colonic mucosal conditions were observed. The liver injury and its mechanism were studied by blood biochemistry, coagulation time, liver hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, bile acids (BAs) metabolism, transcriptomics analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) and Western blot (WB)experiments.

RESULTS

Normal rats receiving 5.6 g/kg PF water extract showed significantly increased serum levels of total bilirubin (TBIL) and total bile acids (TBA), significantly prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thromboplastin time (TT), and slightly swollen hepatocytes, and obvious hepatobiliary hyperplasia. These liver injuries may be related to disordered BAs metabolism: the levels of farnesoid x receptor (FXR) and sulfotransferase family 2A member 1 (SULT2a1) were down-regulated, whereas the levels of microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH), organic anion transporting polypeptide (OATP) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (MRP3) were up-regulated, leading to liver and blood UnconBA and GlycineBA accumulation. However, at the same dose, UC model rats exhibited no obvious liver damage.

CONCLUSION

Normal rats, but not UC rats, displayed signs of liver injury in response to 5.6 g/kg PF water extract administration. Therefore, we recommend that healthy individuals should be aware of the potential risks associated with PF, and other patients should take PF according to their physician's guidance.

Investigation into the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Pothos chinensis (Raf.) Merr. By regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway: Integrated network pharmacology, serum pharmacochemistry, and metabolomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Inflammation is directly related to disease progression and contributes significantly to the global burden of disease. Pothos chinensis (Raf.) Merr. (PCM) is commonly used in Yao medicine in China to treat tumors, and orthopedic illnesses such as knee osteoarthritis, and rheumatic bone discomfort. PCM was found to have significant anti-inflammatory properties in previous studies.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To explore the active compounds of PCM and their anti-inflammatory pharmacological mechanisms through an integrated strategy of serum pharmacochemistry, network pharmacology, and serum metabolomics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the chemical components of PCM were performed using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and UPLC, respectively, and the prototype components of PCM absorbed into the blood were analyzed. Based on the characterized absorbed into blood components, potential targets and signaling pathways of PCM anti-inflammatory were found using network pharmacology. Furthermore, metabolomics studies using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS identified biomarkers and metabolic pathways related to the anti-inflammatory effects of PCM. Finally, the hypothesized mechanisms were verified by in vivo and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

Forty chemical components from PCM were identified for the first time, and seven of them were quantitatively analyzed, while five serum migratory prototype components were found. Network pharmacology KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that arachidonic acid metabolism, Tyrosine metabolism, TNF signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway, and phenylalanine metabolism were the main signaling pathways of PCM anti-inflammatory. Pharmacodynamic results showed that PCM ameliorated liver injury and inflammatory cell infiltration and downregulated protein expression of IL-1β, NF-κB p65, and MyD88 in the liver. Metabolomics studies identified 53 different serum metabolites, mainly related to purine and pyrimidine metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism. The comprehensive results demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory modulatory network of PCM was related to 5 metabolites, 3 metabolic pathways, 7 targets, and 4 active components of PCM. In addition, molecular docking identified the binding ability between the active ingredients and the core targets, and the anti-inflammatory efficacy of the active ingredients was verified by in vitro experiments.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effect of PCM, and these findings provide new insights into the active ingredients and metabolic mechanisms of PCM in anti-inflammation.

The anti-cholestatic effects of Coptis chinensis Franch. alone and combined with Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Jussieu) T. G. Hartley: dual effects on fecal metabolism and microbial diversity

Introduction: Drug dosages and combinations are the main factors that affect the efficacy of pleiotropic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Coptis chinensis Franch. (CF) is a representative TCM with multiple effects and is often combined with Tetradium ruticarpum (A. Jussieu) T. G. Hartley (TR) to treat cholestasis. The present study assessed the influence of CF dose and its combination with TR on the efficacy of CF in cholestasis treatment, including their effects on fecal metabolism and fecal microorganisms. Methods: Rats with α-naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT, 50 mg/kg)-induced cholestasis were administered low (0.3 g/kg) and high (0.6 g/kg) doses of CF, as well as CF combined with TR at doses of 0.6 g/kg and 0.9 g/kg, respectively. The anti-cholestatic effects of these treatments were assessed by determining their anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and anti-oxidative stress properties. Additionally, fecal metabolomics and fecal microorganisms were analyzed. Results: Low dose CF had a more potent hypolipidemic effect than high dose CF, whereas high dose CF had more potent anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects. Combination with TR enhanced the hypolipidemic effect, but antagonized the anti-inflammatory effect, of CF. Analyses of fecal metabolomics and fecal microorganisms showed differences in the regulation of lipid- and amino acid metabolism-related pathways, including pathways of linoleic acid, tyrosine, and arachidonic acid metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis between different doses of CF as well as between different doses of CF in combination with TR. These differences may contribute to differences in the anti-cholestatic effects of these preparations. Conclusion: CF dose influences its anti-cholestatic efficacy. The combination with TR had synergistic or antagonistic effects on the properties of CF, perhaps by altering fecal metabolism and fecal microbial homeostasis.