This study investigates the protective effects of liquiritin (LQ) against acetaminophen (APAP)-induced liver injury in mice and explores the underlying mechanisms. A drug-induced liver injury model was established in mice by intragastric administration of APAP (300 mg·kg-1). LQ was administered intragastrically at 1 h after APAP treatment. Serum biochemical indices, oxidative stress markers, and hepatic histopathological changes were evaluated at 6 h after APAP administration to comprehensively assess the ameliorative effects of LQ (animal experiments were approved by the Animal Ethics Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, approval Nos. PZSHUTCM2401080003 and PZSHUTCM2510170008). Furthermore, Western blot (WB), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and in vitro cell models were employed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results demonstrated that LQ (25 and 50 mg·kg-1) significantly ameliorated APAP-induced liver injury (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001), hepatic oxidative stress (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0.001) and alleviated the inflammatory response (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). WB and qPCR analyses revealed that LQ promoted the nuclear translocation and activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and upregulated downstream gene expression in APAP-induced mouse livers (P < 0.05). Notably, the protective effects of LQ were abolished in Nrf2 knockout mice. These findings indicate that LQ alleviates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity primarily by activating Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway to counteract oxidative stress.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |