Hepatoprotection of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis on rats

Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. (HCW) is a traditional Tibetan medicine, which has been used to ameliorate liver injuries in the folk.

Aim of the study: Liver fibrosis has been recognized as a major lesion of the liver that leads to liver cirrhosis/hepatocarcinoma and even to death in the end. This study aims to demonstrate the protective effect of HCW against CCl₄-induced liver injury in rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods: Hepatic fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄. Liver function markers, fibrosis markers, serum anti-oxidation enzymes as well as elements levels were determined. Serum and liver tissues were subjected to NMR-based metabolomics and multivariate statistical analysis.

Results: HCW could significantly reduce the elevated levels of fibrosis markers such as hyaluronidase, laminin, Type III procollagen and Type IV collagen in the serum, improve the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, and effectively reverse the abnormal levels of elements in liver fibrosis rats. Correlation network analysis revealed that HCW could treat liver fibrosis by ameliorating oxidative stress, repairing the impaired energy metabolisms and reversing the disturbed amino acids and nucleic acids metabolisms.

Conclusion: This integrated metabolomics approach confirmed the validity of the traditional use of HCW in the treatment of liber fibrosis, providing new insights into the underlying mechanisms.

Keywords: CCl(4); Hepatic fibrosis; Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall.; Metabolomics; Network analysis; Tibetan medicine.