Protective Effects of Apamin on Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

6-Shogaol Ameliorates Liver Inflammation and Fibrosis in Mice on a Methionine- and Choline-Deficient Diet by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress, Cell Death, and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is becoming an increasingly serious global health threat, distinguished by hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis. There is a lack of approved pharmaceutical interventions for this disease, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatment. This study explores the hepatoprotective potential of 6-shogaol, a natural compound derived from ginger, in a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) dietary mouse model of NASH. Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to the MCD diet for 4 weeks to induce NASH, with concurrent intraperitoneal administration of 6-shogaol (20 mg/kg) three times a week. While 6-shogaol did not impact body weight, liver weight, or hepatic lipid accumulation, it effectively mitigated liver injury, inflammation, and fibrosis in MCD diet-fed mice. Mechanistically, 6-shogaol inhibited lipid and DNA oxidation, restored hepatic glutathione levels, and regulated the expression of pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, 6-shogaol inhibited apoptosis and necroptosis, as indicated by a decrease in TUNEL-stained cells and downregulation of apoptosis- and necroptosis-associated proteins. Additionally, 6-shogaol alleviated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, as demonstrated by decreased expression of molecules associated with unfolded protein response pathways. These findings underscore the potential of 6-shogaol as a therapeutic intervention for NASH by targeting pathways related to oxidative stress, cell death, and ER stress.

6-Hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline Demonstrates Anti-Inflammatory Properties and Reduces Oxidative Stress in Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in Rats

We examined the effects of 6-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline on markers of liver injury, oxidative status, and the extent of inflammatory and apoptotic processes in rats with acetaminophen-induced liver damage. The administration of acetaminophen caused the accumulation of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine and 8-isoprostane in the liver and serum, as well as an increase in biochemiluminescence indicators. Oxidative stress resulted in the activation of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NF-κB factor mRNA synthesis and increased levels of immunoglobulin G, along with higher activities of caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9. The administration of acetaminophen also resulted in the development of oxidative stress, leading to a decrease in the level of reduced glutathione and an imbalance in the function of antioxidant enzymes. This study discovered that 6-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline reduced oxidative stress by its antioxidant activity, hence reducing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine and NF-κB mRNA, as well as decreasing the concentration of immunoglobulin G. These changes resulted in a reduction in the activity of caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are involved in the activation of ligand-induced and mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis and inhibited the effector caspase-3. In addition, 6-hydroxy-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline promoted the normalization of antioxidant system function in animals treated with acetaminophen. As a result, the compound being tested alleviated inflammation and apoptosis by decreasing oxidative stress, which led to improved liver marker indices and ameliorated histopathological alterations.