Integration of transcriptomics and metabolomics confirmed hepatoprotective effects of steamed shoot extracts of ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on toxicity caused by overdosed acetaminophen

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2021-11, Vol.143, p.112177-112177, Article 112177
• Main Authors: Yao, Fan, Wang, Xinxiang, Cao, Xinxin, Zhang, Kangqing, Sun, Jing, Li, Yuanhang, Sui, Jinling, Liu, Yujun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetaminophen; Amino Acids - metabolism; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - isolation & purification; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Antioxidants - isolation & purification; Antioxidants - pharmacology; APAP-induced liver injury; Apoptosis - drug effects; Bile Acids and Salts - metabolism; Biomarkers - metabolism; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - genetics; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - metabolism; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - pathology; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury - prevention & control; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Overdose; Gene Expression Profiling; Hepatoprotection biomarkers; Immunomodulating Agents - isolation & purification; Immunomodulating Agents - pharmacology; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Liver - drug effects; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Metabolome; Metabolomics; Mice; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Panax - chemistry; Plant Extracts - isolation & purification; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Shoots; Steam; Steamed ginseng shoot extract (GSE); Transcriptome; Transcriptomics; Vitamin A - metabolism
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112177

The study aimed, by integrating transcriptomics and metabolomics, to reveal novel biomarkers caused by overdosed acetaminophen (APAP) and liver protection substances procured by pre-administration of ginseng shoots extract (GSE). Totally 4918 genes and 127 metabolites were identified as differentially expressed genes and differential metabolites, respectively. According to KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment, such pathways as primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, retinol metabolism, histidine and several other amino-related metabolism were significantly altered by GSE and disturbed by subsequent overdosed APAP at the transcriptomic as well as metabolomic levels. Fifteen key biomarker metabolites related to these pathways were up-regulated in APAP-treated vs GSE-pretreated liver tissues, and were reported exerting anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and/or immunomodulate functions, three of which even possessed direct hepatoprotection effects. Twenty five vital unigenes modulating these metabolites were further verified by correlation analysis and expression levels of fifteen of them were examined by qRT-PCR. Our findings indicate that GSE may be an effective dietary supplement for preventing the liver damage caused by the overdosed APAP. [Display omitted] •GSE potentiated genes transcription in protecting APAP-induced liver injury of mice.•GSE modulated primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, and retinol metabolism.•GSE regulated histidine and several other amino-related metabolic pathways.•GSE stimulated yielding of biomarker metabolites that exerted hepatoprotection effects.