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Planta Med 2023; 89(04): 385-396
DOI: 10.1055/a-1953-0369
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers

The Anti-inflammatory Effects of Isoflavonoids from Radix Astragali in Hepatoprotective Potential against LPS/D-gal-induced Acute Liver Injury

Nuerbiye Aobulikasimu
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Dan Zheng
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Peipei Guan
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Lixiao Xu
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Bo Liu
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Minglei Li
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Xueshi Huang
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
,
Li Han 
Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, Peopleʼs Republic of China
› Author AffiliationsSupported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China 81771167
Supported by: National Natural Science Foundation of China U1608282
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Abstract

Radix Astragali (RA) is an important Traditional Chinese Medicine widely used in the treatment of various diseases, such as pneumonia, atherosclerosis, diabetes, kidney and liver fibrosis. The role of isoflavonoids from RA in the treatment of liver injury remains unclear. The study aimed to explore hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of isoflavonoids from Astragalus mongholicus. Network pharmacological analysis showed that RA had a multi-target regulating effect on alleviating liver injury and inhibiting inflammation through its active ingredients, among which isoflavones were closely related to its key molecular targets. The anti-inflammatory and liver protection effects of isoflavonoids of RA were investigated using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells in vitro and LPS/D-galactosamine (D-gal)-induced acute liver injury mice in vivo. The experimental results showed that methylnissolin (ML) and methylnissolin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (MLG) presented more notable anti-inflammatory effects. Both of them suppressed the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In vivo investigation demonstrated that ML markedly meliorated liver injury in LPS/D-gal-induced mice. Western blot results revealed that ML and MLG down-regulated the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via NF-κB signaling pathway. The isoflavonoids, methylnissolin (ML), and methylnissolin-3-O-β-D-glucoside (MLG), play a vital role in the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of RA.

Key words

Astragalus mongholicus - Fabaceae - isoflavonoids - anti-inflammation - LPS/D-gal-induced acute liver injury - NF-κB signaling pathway - network pharmacology

Supporting Information

    List of Abbreviations, extraction and isolation of A. mongholicus, NMR spectra of compounds 1–8, as well as the primers for qRT-PCR can be found in Supplementary Information.

  • Supporting Information


Publication History

Received: 10 April 2022

Accepted after revision: 12 September 2022

Article published online:
12 December 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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