NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ›› 2025, Vol. 37 ›› Issue (10): 1810-1821. doi: 10.16333/j.1001-6880.2025.10.003 cstr: 32307.14.1001-6880.2025.10.003

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Protective effect of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma on liver injury induced by total alkaloid of Strychni Semen in rats based on metabolomics

FU Xiao-yan1,GONG Zi-han2,LIAN Xiao-long3,YANG Bi-qian1,YIN Ting-mei1,GAO Guang-miao1,DENG Yi1,4*,YANG Xiu-juan1,4*   

  1. 1Gansu University of Chinese Medicine,Lanzhou 730000,China;2Research Institute,Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Yinchuan 750021,China;3Qinghai University,Xining 810000,China;4Key Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of Traditional Chinese Medicine,Gansu University of Chinese Medicine,Lanzhou 730000,China
  • Online:2025-10-31 Published:2025-10-30

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Abstract:

This study aims to explore the protective effect and mechanism of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma on liver injury induced by total alkaloid of Strychni Semen. The liver injury model was induced by total alkaloid of Strychni Semen. Histopathological morphology, liver function, oxidative stress, inflammatory factors and the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated. Additionally, non-targeted metabolomics was utilized to analyze the differential metabolites and metabolic pathways. Compared with the blank control group, the model group showed severe hepatic congestion, nuclear pyknosis, and inflammatory infiltration. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA), pro-inflammatory factors in liver tissues were significantly elevated (P < 0.01). In contrast, the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Western blot results showed that the protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2)/BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX) in liver tissues were significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the expression level of Caspase-3 protein was significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma treatment groups showed a marked improvement in hepatic pathological damage. The levels of ALT, AST, MDA and inflammatory factors were reduced to varying degrees. Meanwhile, the levels of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly increased (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). Additionally, the protein expression of BCL-2/BAX was significantly upregulated, while Caspase-3 expression was significantly downregulated (P < 0.05). Metabolomics analysis revealed that the high-dose Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma group significantly reversed 11 differential metabolites and enriched 3 metabolic pathways, with tryptophan metabolism being the most prominent. In conclusion, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma alleviates liver injury in rats induced by total alkaloids of Strychni Semen by suppressing inflammatory factors, counteracting oxidative stress, regulating apoptosis-related protein expression, and modulating tryptophan metabolism.

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