Confusoside from Alleviates Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury in HepG2 via PI3K-CASP3 Signaling Pathway.
Jing-Hao Zhao, Jing Li, Xiao-Yu Zhang, Shang Shi, Lin Wang, Ming-Long Yuan, Ya-Ping Liu, Yu-Dan Wang
Author Information
Jing-Hao Zhao: Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, China.
Jing Li: Department of Information, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan, Kunming 650021, China.
Xiao-Yu Zhang: The faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China.
Shang Shi: Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, China.
Lin Wang: Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, China.
Ming-Long Yuan: Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, China.
Ya-Ping Liu: The faculty of Food Science and Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China.
Yu-Dan Wang: Key Laboratory of Chemistry in Ethnic Medicinal Resources, State Ethnic Affairs Commission and Ministry of Education, Yunnan Minzu University, Kunming 650500, China.
Confusoside (CF), a major chemical compound in the leaves of Wall., is a dihydrochalcone glycoside with excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the hepatoprotective effect of CF has not been described. This study aimed to explore the hepatoprotective effect of CF against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatic injury in HepG2 cells. First, the potential hepatoprotective effect mechanisms of CF were predicted by network pharmacology and were thought to involve reducing inflammation and inhibiting apoptosis. Target proteins (phosphatidylinositol3-kinase (PI3K) and caspase-3 (CASP3)) were found via molecular docking analysis. To verify the predicted results, an analysis of biological indicators was performed using commercial kits and Western blotting. The results showed that CF significantly decreased the levels of liver injury biomarkers (ALT, AST, and LDH), strongly inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-��) and the NO level via inhibiting the activation of the NF-B signaling pathway, and markedly regulated the expression levels of Bcl2, Bax, and cleaved-CASP3/9 proteins by activating the PI3K-CASP3 apoptosis pathway. The results demonstrated that CF has a therapeutic effect on APAP-induced liver injury by inhibiting intracellular inflammation and cell apoptosis, indicating that CF may be used as a potential reagent for the prevention and treatment of APAP-induced liver injury.
