α-Linolenic acid-driven nano-liposomes from purslane seed oil modulate p-JAK2/p-STAT3 to combat acute liver failure.

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious illness characterized by extensive liver cell damage and inflammation. The present study highlights the potential of purslane seed oil extract-Pluronic-modulated liposomes (PSE-PMLs) to protect against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced ALF in rats. Four groups of rats were used in the present study: normal control (NC), TAA-induced ALF, silymarin (SIL), and PSE-PML groups. SIL- and PSE-PML-pretreated groups were orally pre-administered SIL (200 mg/kg) and PSE-PMLs (500 mg/kg), respectively, for 7 days. After these pretreatments, all groups except the NC group were injected intraperitoneally with TAA (350 mg/kg) to induce ALF. Serum levels of liver biochemical markers and inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma were estimated. Additionally, the hepatic malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activity, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha, phosphorylated Janus kinase 2, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, tumor protein p53, active cysteine-aspartic acid protease 3, and B-cell lymphoma 2 were assessed. A histopathological examination of the liver was also performed. The study found that pretreatment with PSE-PMLs mitigated TAA-induced biochemical and histopathological alterations, alleviating oxidative stress, dampening the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and amending liver cell apoptosis. These pioneering findings suggest that PSE-PMLs are a promising prophylactic agent against ALF, warranting further studies in the post-injury models. The phytochemical profiling, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, of purslane seed oil revealed α-linolenic acid (∼98%) as the predominant component, with additional sterols, tocopherols, and phenolic acids that may underlie its strong antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.