Shilajit extract (ZhaXun) protects against acetaminophen-induced liver injury via modulation of the NF-κB/AKT/Caspase-3 axis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Shilajit, a natural product utilized in traditional Tibetan medicine and known in China as ZhaXun (ZX), has been historically used for treating liver disorders. Recent studies have indicated that bioactive components in ZX, such as humic acid, fulvic acid, and isorhamnetin, exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities. These properties suggest its potential therapeutic relevance in alleviating acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury (ALI).

AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of ZX against APAP-induced ALI.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The potential targets of ZX for ALI treatment were screened and then used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Core targets were identified using Cytoscape software, followed by GO and KEGG analyses. The effects of ZX on APAP-stimulated HepG2 cells and mice were determined by evaluating oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. The potential mechanisms of ZX against ALI were verified by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting (WB) methods.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with ZX at doses of 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 g/kg (administration by gavage) effectively attenuated APAP-induced liver injury (300 mg/kg), as confirmed by a decrease in plasma ALT and AST levels (75.0 % and 69.8 %, respectively). Network pharmacology analysis predicted ZX exerts a comprehensive protective effect against APAP-induced ALI by regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory response and apoptotic pathways. The results suggested that ZX not only ameliorated APAP-induced liver oxidative damage by regulating oxidative stress markers (SOD, MDA, CAT, GSH), but also diminished liver inflammation by inhibiting the levels of related inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β). In addition, hepatocyte apoptosis was quantified by TUNEL staining. Finally, WB and RT-qPCR results further verified that ZX attenuated APAP-induced liver inflammation through PI3K/AKT and TLR4/NF-κB pathways. ZX inhibited hepatocyte apoptosis by balancing Bax/Bcl-2 expression and reducing Caspase-3 activation.

CONCLUSION

ZX alleviates APAP-induced ALI by attenuating inflammatory response and hepatocyte apoptosis. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have demonstrated that ZX alleviates APAP-induced ALI through NF-κB/AKT/Caspase-3 pathways.