ABSTRACT
According to the theory of 'Xingben Dazao' of Psoralea corylifolia Linn. (BL), the susceptible syndromes and biomarkers of liver injury caused by BL were searched. Rat models of kidney-yin deficiency syndrome (M_yin) and kidney-yang deficiency syndrome (M_yang) were established, and all animal experimental operations and welfare following the provisions of the First Affiliated Experimental Animal Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (No. YFYDW2020017). The results showed that BL significantly decreased the body weight, water intake, and urine weight of M_yin rats and increase the organ indexes of the liver, testis, adrenal gland, and spleen and the expression of alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Meantime, BL significantly increased the urine weight of M_yang rats and decreased the expression of ALT and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining showed that BL could aggravate inflammatory infiltration of hepatocytes in rats with M_yin and alleviate liver injury in rats with M_yang. Metabolomics identified 17 BL co-regulated significant differential metabolic markers in M_yin and M_yang rats. Among them, 8 metabolites such as glutamine, quinolinate, biliverdin, and lactosylceramide showed opposite trends, mainly involving cysteine and methionine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, purine metabolism, sphingolipid metabolism, glycerol phospholipid metabolism, glutamine metabolism, and other pathways. M_yin/M_yang may be the susceptible constitution of BL for liver damage or protection, which may be related to the regulation of amino acid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism. The study can provide some experimental data support for the safe and accurate use of BL in the clinical practice of traditional Chinese medicine.
ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the mechanism of Psoralea corylifolia Linn (PCL) on liver injury by establishing the biological function and pathway network of PCL components, targets and protein interactions based on bioinformatics. Methods The components of PCL and potential liver-injury related targets were collected from TCMIP database. The targets of PCL were predicted by the reverse pharmacophore matching method. Cytoscape software was applied for the construction of active components-targets network map. Protein-protein interaction network was constructed by STRING database. Gene ontology functional enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were conducted to predict the liver injury mechanism of PCL. Results 22 components were identified from PCL with the corresponding 31 potential liver injury targets, mainly on serum albumin (ALB), glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP1), transthyretin (TTR) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG) by PPI network analysis. The chemical carcinogenesis, adenosine 5 '- monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) signal, PPAR signal, liver enzyme P450 and its harmful substance metabolism, glutathione metabolism and other signaling pathways were selected by KEGG analysis. Conclusion The active components of PCL may target on ALB, GSTP1, TTR and PPARG to regulate AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways, leading to liver injury.
ABSTRACT
Bakuchi (Psoralea corylifolia Linn.) is one of the important endangered medicinal plants used in Ayurveda and other Traditional systems. Its cultivation and propagation is difficult due to its low germination rate (5-7%) & prolonged seed dormancy. Bakuchi seeds made into 5 groups, the experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with 5 treatments and 5 replications totally 500 seeds in each group) & observed for 50 days. Control Group 1 no- seed treatment, Group 2- Standard treated with 1% conc H2SO4, Group 3 Vrikshayurvedic treatment done by soaking in milk subsequently fumigation of Vidanga & Ghee, Group 4- treated with paste of Brihati, Tila, Kamalanaala, Ghee & Group 5 treated by soaking in milk subsequently Cow dung, Vidanga & Honey applied. Number of seeds germinated, germination percentage, emergence index and relative seed germination parameters were observed. HPLC studies carried out of post harvested Bakuchi seeds of all 5 groups to know the effect of seed treatments on Psoralen content quantitatively. Overall results indicates that Group 4 (8.000 ± 0.8367) seeds soaked in 12 hrs milk followed by application of Brihati, Tila, Kamalanaala & Ghee paste for 12 hrs treatment is statistically significant (P value>0.05) in comparison with group 2 (4.600 ± 0.6782) Sulphuric acid treatment and Group 3 (4.200± 0.9165) fumigation with Honey & Vidanga. Rest of the groups shown insignificant changes on germination parameters. HPLC Results found that generally seed treatments may reduce the content of Psoralen as in control (Group 1) maximum percentage (0.04%w/w) of Psoralen is noticed. Among treatment groups Group 4 contains maximum (0.027%w/w) Psoralen next to control (0.039%w/w). Psoralen content is very less in standard Group 2 (0.022%w/w), Group 3 (0.023%w/w) & Group 4 (0.024%w/w). Maximum germination percentage was observed in Group 4 in comparison with the Group 2conventional method of treating with sulphuric acid. Estimation of Psoralen contents in the seeds from the plants grown by various treated seeds reveled that Group 4 is qualitatively better than standard, but inferior to the control, standard & other Vrikshayurveda seed treatment techniques used in the current experiment.