Herbal Formula Science (대한한의학방제학회지)

The Korean Medicine Society for the Herbal Formula Study (대한한의학방제학회)
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Cytoprotective Effect of Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold Branch Extracts via Blocking Oxidative Stress in Hepatocytes

간세포에서 산화적 스트레스 억제를 통한 생달가지 추출물의 세포보호 효과

  • Ji Hye Yang (College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University)
  • 양지혜 (동신대학교 한의과대학 한의예과)
  • Received : 2023.10.31
  • Accepted : 2023.11.12
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

Objectives : Native to East Asia, Japan, and Korea, Cinnamomum japonicum Siebold (CJ) is renowned for its aromatic leaves and bark. We previously assessed the antioxidant activity of fractionated CJ branches (CJB:70% EtOH extract), including hexane (CJB1), chloroform (CJB2), ethyl acetate (CJB3), butanol (CJB4), and water (CJB5). Our findings revealed that CJB3 exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Here, we aimed to investigate whether CJB3 possesses cytoprotective effects and induces the activity of antioxidant enzymes in hepatocytes. Methods : As HepG2 cells were the first to exhibit the key characteristics of hepatocytes, we investigated the hepatoprotective effects of CJB3 on HepG2 cells. Results : Before conducting the cell experiment, we checked that CJB3, up to a concentration of 100 ㎍/mL, did not exhibit cytotoxicity toward HepG2 cells. ROS production increased because of t-BHP treatment decreased in a concentration-dependent manner upon CJB3 treatment. We confirmed that CJB3 inhibited t-BHP-induced cell death. CJB3 was found to reverse the expression of proteins associated with t-BHP-induced apoptosis. We also observed that CJB3 induced Nrf2 phosphorylation and the nuclear translocation of Nrf2. And, CJB3 treatment caused a time-dependent enhancement of GCL and NQO1 protein expression. We further confirmed that CJB3 increased the expression of Nrf2 target genes, and this effect was associated with the activation of JNK, p38, and AMPK. Conclusion : CJB3 prevents t-BHP-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis and enhances the expression of Nrf2 target genes via JNK, p38, and AMPK activation. These results suggest that CJB3 is a promising candidate for the treatment of liver diseases.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work is supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (No. 2022M3A9B6017813) and a science and technology project that opens the future of the region (No. 2021-DD-UP-0380).

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