Repression of Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity in HepG2 Cells by Polyphenolic Compounds from Lauridia tetragona (L.f.) R.H. Archer

Hepatoprotective potential of coconut inflorescence sap against paracetamol induced toxicity in hep G2 cell lines

Coconut Inflorescence Sap (CIS) is the sweet, oyster-white colored, non-fermented juice obtained from the immature inflorescence of the Coconut tree. Acetaminophen (N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, or paracetamol) is one of the most frequently used drugs worldwide as an antipyretic or analgesic. HepG2 cell lines were used as an experimental model for studying in vitro hepatotoxicity induced by Paracetamol. The present study aims to identify biologically active compounds of CIS using LCMS analysis and to elucidate the ameliorative potential of CIS in alleviating paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity. LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 17 bioactive compounds. HepG2 cells were pretreated with Paracetamol (20 mM) for inducing toxicity, and Silymarin at a concentration of 50 μg/ml was used as a standard drug. The morphological analysis and MTT assay showed effective recovery from toxicity in cells treated with CIS in a dose-dependent manner. CIS at 25 μg/ml potentially showed the highest percentage of inhibitory activity against the toxicity induced by paracetamol. The treatment with paracetamol significantly increased the indicators of liver toxicity - LDH, SGOT, SGPT, and Glut.S Transferase in the media.CIS administration also increased the total protein levels, SOD, and Catalase activity. The morphological analysis, MTT assay, cytocompatibility studies, determination of enzymatic activities, etc., confirms the significant hepatoprotective efficacy of CIS.

Novel fast dissolving freeze dried sublingual baicalin tablets for enhanced hepatoprotective effect: in-vitro characterization, cell viability, and in-vivo evaluation

Baicalin (BG), a natural product, has been used in the prevention and treatment of drug-induced liver injury (DILI); however, its poor solubility and extensive liver metabolism limit its pharmacological use. The aim of the present study was the formulation of fast-dissolving freeze-dried sublingual tablets (FFSTs) to increase BG dissolution, avoid first-pass metabolism, and overcome swallowing difficulties. FFSTs were prepared following a 23 factorial design. The effect of three independent variables namely matrix former, Maltodextrin, concentration (4%, and 6%), binder concentration (2%, and 3%), and binder type (Methocel E5, and Methocel E15) on the FFSTs' in-vitro disintegration time and percentage dissolution was studied along with other tablet characteristics. Differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, in-vitro HepG2 cell viability assay, and in-vivo characterization were also performed. F8 (6% Maltodextrin, 2% Mannitol, 2% Methocel E5), with desirability of 0.852, has been furtherly enhanced using 1%PEG (F10). F10 has achieved an in-vitro disintegration time of 41 secs, and 60.83% in-vitro dissolution after 2 min. Cell viability assay, in-vivo study in rats, and histopathological studies confirmed that pretreatment with F10 has achieved a significant hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. The outcome of this study demonstrated that FFSTs may present a patient-friendly dosage form against DILI.

Coculture model of a liver sinusoidal endothelial cell barrier and HepG2/C3a spheroids-on-chip in an advanced fluidic platform

The liver is one of the main organs involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and a key organ in toxicity studies. Prior to accessing the hepatocytes, xenobiotics pass through the hepatic sinusoid formed by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). The LSECs barrier regulates the kinetics and concentrations of the xenobiotics before their metabolic processing by the hepatocytes. To mimic this physiological situation, we developed an in vitro model reproducing an LSECs barrier in coculture with a hepatocyte biochip, using a fluidic platform. This technology made dynamic coculture and tissue crosstalk possible. SK-HEP-1 and HepG2/C3a cells were used as LSECs and as hepatocyte models, respectively. We confirmed the LSECs phenotype by measuring PECAM-1 and stabilin-2 expression levels and the barrier's permeability/transport properties with various molecules. The tightness of the SK-HEP-1 barrier was enhanced in the dynamic coculture. The morphology, albumin secretion, and gene expression levels of markers of HepG2/C3a were not modified by coculture with the LSECs barrier. Using acetaminophen, a well-known hepatotoxic drug, to study tissue crosstalk, there was a reduction in the expression levels of the LSECs markers stabilin-2 and PECAM-1, and a modification of those of CLEC4M and KDR. No HepG2/C3a toxicity was observed. The metabolisation of acetaminophen by HepG2/C3a monocultures and cocultures was confirmed. Although primary cells are required to propose a fully relevant model, the present approach highlights the potential of our system for investigating xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity.

Natural Products for Acetaminophen-Induced Acute Liver Injury: A Review

The liver plays a vital role in metabolism, synthesis, and detoxification, but it is susceptible to damage from various factors such as viral infections, drug reactions, excessive alcohol consumption, and autoimmune diseases. This susceptibility is particularly problematic for patients requiring medication, as drug-induced liver injury often leads to underestimation, misdiagnosis, and difficulties in treatment. Acetaminophen (APAP) is a widely used and safe drug in therapeutic doses but can cause liver toxicity when taken in excessive amounts. This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxicity of APAP and explore potential treatment strategies using a mouse model of APAP-induced liver injury. The study involved the evaluation of various natural products for their therapeutic potential. The findings revealed that natural products demonstrated promising hepatoprotective effects, potentially alleviating liver damage and improving liver function through various mechanisms such as oxidative stress and inflammation, which cause changes in signaling pathways. These results underscore the importance of exploring novel treatment options for drug-induced liver injury, suggesting that further research in this area could lead to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic interventions, ultimately benefiting patients with liver injury caused by medicine.

Near-infrared-emitting upconverting BiVO4 nanoprobes for in vivo fluorescent imaging

Near-infrared (NIR) emitting BiVO₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ nanoparticles are synthesized by a new solvothermal strategy using solvents of oleic acid and methanol. The obtained BiVO₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ samples show an average particle size of ≈164 nm and exhibit an asymmetry monoclinic crystal structure of BiVO₄. At NIR excitation of 980 nm, the BiVO₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ sample exhibits a nearly single NIR emission at ≈796 nm with extremely weak blue emissions from Tm³⁺ ions. These high-energy visible emissions are absorbed by the semiconducting host of BiVO₄ that possesses a bandgap of ≈2.2 eV. Therefore, the NIR excitation to a single intense NIR emission fluorescent BiVO₄ materials could be a potential ideal probe for deep-tissue high-resolution bioimaging. To validate the ability of BiVO₄ materials for bio-applications, we conduct the cytotoxicity experiments. The results show that the cytotoxicity of HeLa cells is negligible at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml of BiVO₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ , and the cell viability approaches 90% at a high dosage of 0.5 mg/ml. The Daphnia magna and Zebrafish treated with nanoparticles (0.5 mg/ml) display bright NIR emission without any background, indicating the excellent in vivo fluorescent imaging capacity of BiVO₄:Yb³⁺,Tm³⁺ nanoparticles. Our findings offer an environment-friendly strategy to synthesize BiVO₄ UCL nanophosphors and provide a promising new class of fluorescent probes for biological applications.

Alginate-Derived Elicitors Enhance β-Glucan Content and Antioxidant Activities in Culinary and Medicinal Mushroom, Sparassis latifolia

This study aimed to investigate the elicitation effects of alginate oligosaccharides extracted from brown algae (Sargassum species) on β-glucan production in cauliflower mushroom (Sparassis latifolia). Sodium alginate was refined from Sargassum fulvellum, S. fusiforme, and S. horneri, and characterized by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR), resulting mannuronic acid to guluronic acid (M/G) rationes from 0.64 to 1.38. Three oligosaccharide fractions, ethanol fraction (EF), solid fraction (SF), and liquid fraction (LF), were prepared by acid hydrolysis and analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra and high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with a pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD). The samples of S. fusiforme resulted in the highest hydrolysate in SF and the lowest in LF, which was consistent with its highest M/G ratio. The SF of S. fusiforme and LF of S. horneri were chosen for elicitation on S. latifolia, yielding the highest β-glucan contents of 56.01 ± 3.45% and 59.74 ± 4.49% in the stalk, respectively. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activities (2,2’-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging and Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity) of aqueous extracts of S. latifolia were greatly stimulated by alginate elicitation. These results demonstrate that alginate oligosaccharides extracted from brown algae may be useful as an elicitor to enhance the nutritional value of mushrooms.

4-hydroxy-2(3H)-benzoxazolone alleviates acetaminophen-induced hepatic injury by inhibiting NF-κB and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of 4-hydroxy-2(3H)-benzoxazolone from Acanthus ilicifolius (HBAI) on acute liver injury induced by acetaminophen in mice and its mechanism. Mice were continuously treated with HBAI (200, 100, 50 mg/kg) once a day for 10 days. After that, the mice were fasted for 8 hours, followed by intraperitoneal injection of acetaminophen (300 mg/kg). The results showed that HBAI pretreatment significantly reduced acetaminophen-induced liver tissue congestion, hepatocyte apoptosis and necrosis, and inflammatory cell infiltration. HBAI could effectively reduce the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. Interestingly, the activities of liver catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione and glutathione reductase were enhanced by HBAI pretreatment. Moreover, HBAI pretreatment alleviated acetaminophen-induced hepatocyte apoptosis by regulating the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins and the mitochondrial function. Further study showed that HBAI pretreatment effectively promoted the expression of Nrf2 and its signal downstream HO-1, NQO1, GCLC, GCLM, and MGST-1, suggesting the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Meanwhile, HBAI attenuated the phosphorylation of NF-κBp65, IKKα/β, and IκBα, as well as the expression of NF-κBp50, which indicated that HBAI blocked the signal transduction of NF-κB pathway. In conclusion, HBAI protects against acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury by inhibiting the NF-κB and activating Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

Correlations between Microbiota Bioactivity and Bioavailability of Functional Compounds: A Mini-Review

Numerous studies have demonstrated the role of the microbiota in supporting the physiological functions, owing to its metabolomic component. The presence of biocomponents generally leads to the correction of the microbial pattern correlated with the reduction of oxidative pressure. This study aims to present the main processes that correlate the bioavailability and bioactivity of some functional components through the action of the human microbiota. The use of probiotics and prebiotics is an innovative manner involving alternatives that increase the bioavailability of certain natural or metabolic components has been proposed. Probiotic strains (Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Lactobacillus (L.) plantarum) may represent an intermediary for increasing the antioxidant bioactivity, and they may be administered in the form of a biomass enriched with functional compounds, such as phenolic acids. The limiting effect of gastrointestinal transit is, in several cases, the key to the biopharmaceutical value of new products (or supplements). The identification of newer ways of formulating supplements also involves the compatibility of different types of products, the testing of bioaccessibility, and the elimination of biotransformations.

In Vitro Antidiabetic Activity Affecting Glucose Uptake in HepG2 Cells Following Their Exposure to Extracts of Lauridia tetragona (L.f.) R.H. Archer

The incidence of diabetes is on the rise and one of the medically active plants used for the treatment of diabetes in South Africa is Lauridia tetragona. The aim of this study is to investigate the antidiabetic property of the polyphenolics (PP) compounds isolated from the methanolic extract of Lauridia tetragona. The α-amylase, α-glucosidase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV), lipase inhibitory activities, and glucose uptake in HepG2 were investigated. The methanolic extract fractions of L. tetragona yielded six fractions (PP1–PP6) all of which showed weak inhibition against DPPIV and lipase compared to the standards. However, PP4 and PP6 showed the best inhibition against α-amylase (IC50 of 359.3 ± 2.11 and 416.82 ± 2.58 μg/mL, respectively) and α-glucosidase (IC50 of 95.93 ± 2.34 and 104.49 ± 2.21 μg/mL, respectively) and only PP4 (173.6%) resulted in enhanced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells compared to berberine (129.89%) and metformin (187.16%) used as positive controls. The previous investigation on PP4 and PP6 showed the presence of polyphenolics such as ferulic acid, coumaric acid, and caffeic acid. The results of this study suggest that L. tetragona could be suitable as an antidiabetic agent and justifies the folkloric use of the plant to treat diabetes.