Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury

BackgroundDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major clinical concern due to its unpredictable nature and lack of effective therapeutic options.MethodsThis study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides (AMPs) in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-in...

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Main Authors: Jiali Wu, Biao Jia, Shuai Gong, Yangpeng Li, Jiaqi Wang, Yuqiao Huang, Jiao Guo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1583334/full
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author Jiali Wu
Biao Jia
Shuai Gong
Yangpeng Li
Jiaqi Wang
Yuqiao Huang
Jiao Guo
author_facet Jiali Wu
Biao Jia
Shuai Gong
Yangpeng Li
Jiaqi Wang
Yuqiao Huang
Jiao Guo
author_sort Jiali Wu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major clinical concern due to its unpredictable nature and lack of effective therapeutic options.MethodsThis study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides (AMPs) in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury. Mice were pretreated with AMPs for 7 days prior to APAP challenge, and liver injury was evaluated through histopathology, serum biochemistry, molecular assays, and gut microbiota analysis.ResultsAMPs treatment significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels compared to the APAP group (p < 0.05). Hepatic oxidative stress was alleviated, as indicated by increased levels of glutathione (GSH, p < 0.05) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, p < 0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA, p < 0.05). AMPs also suppressed inflammatory cytokines, including Il-1β, Tnf-α, Il-6, and Nlrp3 (p < 0.05), and modulated apoptosis-related proteins by downregulating Bax and upregulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl expression (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AMPs improved gut microbiota diversity and enriched beneficial genera such as Roseburia, as revealed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Fecal microbiota transplantation from AMPs-treated mice replicated these hepatoprotective effects, highlighting the involvement of the gut–liver axis.ConclusionThese findings support the therapeutic potential of AMPs as a multifaceted agent for DILI, exerting protective effects through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and intestinal dysbiosis.
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spelling doaj-art-68cd67e94de041beba41a0bb16cefd1d2025-08-20T02:10:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-06-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15833341583334Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injuryJiali WuBiao JiaShuai GongYangpeng LiJiaqi WangYuqiao HuangJiao GuoBackgroundDrug-induced liver injury (DILI) is a major clinical concern due to its unpredictable nature and lack of effective therapeutic options.MethodsThis study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides (AMPs) in a mouse model of acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury. Mice were pretreated with AMPs for 7 days prior to APAP challenge, and liver injury was evaluated through histopathology, serum biochemistry, molecular assays, and gut microbiota analysis.ResultsAMPs treatment significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels compared to the APAP group (p < 0.05). Hepatic oxidative stress was alleviated, as indicated by increased levels of glutathione (GSH, p < 0.05) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, p < 0.05), and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA, p < 0.05). AMPs also suppressed inflammatory cytokines, including Il-1β, Tnf-α, Il-6, and Nlrp3 (p < 0.05), and modulated apoptosis-related proteins by downregulating Bax and upregulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl expression (p < 0.05). Furthermore, AMPs improved gut microbiota diversity and enriched beneficial genera such as Roseburia, as revealed by 16S rDNA sequencing. Fecal microbiota transplantation from AMPs-treated mice replicated these hepatoprotective effects, highlighting the involvement of the gut–liver axis.ConclusionThese findings support the therapeutic potential of AMPs as a multifaceted agent for DILI, exerting protective effects through modulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and intestinal dysbiosis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1583334/fullhepatoprotectionherbal polysaccharidesintestinal microbiotaoxidative stressNLRP3 inflammasome
spellingShingle Jiali Wu
Biao Jia
Shuai Gong
Yangpeng Li
Jiaqi Wang
Yuqiao Huang
Jiao Guo
Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury
Frontiers in Pharmacology
hepatoprotection
herbal polysaccharides
intestinal microbiota
oxidative stress
NLRP3 inflammasome
title Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury
title_full Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury
title_fullStr Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury
title_full_unstemmed Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury
title_short Protective effects of Atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen-induced liver injury
title_sort protective effects of atractylodes macrocephala polysaccharides on acetaminophen induced liver injury
topic hepatoprotection
herbal polysaccharides
intestinal microbiota
oxidative stress
NLRP3 inflammasome
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1583334/full
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