Juglans regia L. attenuate Psoralea corylifolia L.-induced hepatotoxicity by regulating the Nrf2 pathway and amino acid metabolism.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The hepatotoxicity associated with the traditional herbal tonic Psoralea corylifolia L., also known as Psoraleae fructus (PF) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is attenuated by compatibility with Juglans regia L., also known as Walnut kernels (WKs) in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia; however, the molecular mechanisms involved are unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms through which WKs attenuate PF-induced liver injury.

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to the control, low-dose PF (PL), high-dose PF (PH), low-dose PF + WKs (PJL), high-dose PF + WKs (PJH), and PJH + Nrf2 inhibitor (PJHM) groups. After 4 weeks of daily therapeutic intervention, serum and hepatic tissues were collected for hepatic biochemical profiling, inflammatory cytokine quantification, oxidative stress parameter evaluation, and histopathological and ultrastructural examinations.

RESULTS

WKs administration considerably attenuated hepatotoxicity biomarkers and proinflammatory mediators while enhancing the antioxidant capacity of hepatocytes compared to the effects observed in the PL and PH groups. Histopathological analysis revealed marked amelioration of hepatocellular swelling and reduced inflammatory infiltration. Ultrastructural examination confirmed the preservation of the mitochondrial cristae structure and suppression of apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of Nrf2 exacerbated hepatic damage, and effectively reversed the protective effects of WKs. Western blot analysis revealed that the Nrf2/HO-1 axis was activated in the PJH group and upregulated the expression of the downstream effectors HO-1 and NQO1, whereas a significant suppression of this pathway was observed in the PJHM group. HPLC-MS/MS profiling revealed enhanced norbakuchinic acid levels, coupled with substantial decreases in hepatotoxic psoralen derivatives (psoralen, isopsoralen, bavachinin, bavachalcone, and neobavaisoflavone) in the PJH group. Untargeted metabolomics revealed 33 dysregulated metabolites in the PH group, 23 of which were regulated back to a more normal expression in the PJH group. These metabolites are involved in pathways of arginine biosynthesis, glycine-serine-threonine metabolism, and pyruvate metabolism. Targeted metabolomics validated the metabolic reprogramming of the following amino acids: sarcosine, pyruvate, urea, lactate, and malate decreased, threonine, aspartate, fumarate, and glutamine were increased; and citrulline and glutamate showed an upward trend. Spearman's correlation network analysis revealed strong positive associations between hepatotoxic components (psoralidin, neobavaisoflavone, and bavachin) and liver injury indicators. Aspartate, citrulline, and pyruvate levels correlated most prominently with the components of liver injury.

CONCLUSIONS

WKs mitigated PF-induced liver injury through multiple pathways, particularly by reducing the levels of injury-causing components. Additionally, WKs activate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and modulate amino acid metabolism.