Aged citrus peel (Chenpi) prevents acetaminophen-induced Hepatotoxicity by epigenetically regulating Nrf2 pathway.

PMID: 

Am J Chin Med. 2019 ;47(8):1833-1851. Epub 2019 Dec 3. PMID: 31795743

Abstract Title: 

Aged Citrus Peel (Chenpi) Prevents Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity by Epigenetically Regulating Nrf2 Pathway.

Abstract: 

Excessive consumption of analgesic drug acetaminophen (APAP) can cause severe oxidative stress-mediated liver injury. Here, we investigated the protective effect and mechanism of aged citrus peel (Chenpi, CP), a Chinese herb usually used in foods in Asia, against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. CP water (CP-WE), ethanolic (CP-EE), and water extraction residue ethanolic (CP-WREE) extracts were prepared. We found that CP-WREE contained higher content of bioactive flavonoids, including narirutin, nobiletin, and tangeretin, and more effectively enhanced the Nrf2 pathway in ARE-luciferase reporter gene transfected human HepG2-C8 cells. In mouse AML-12 hepatocytes, CP-WREE minimized APAP-induced damage and lipid peroxidation and increased mRNA and protein expressions of Nrf2 and its downstream defense enzymes (HO-1, NQO1, and UGT1A). CP-WREE also downregulated HDACs and DNMTs, upregulated KDMs, and increased the unmethylated Nrf2 promoter level. Additionally, CP-WREE blockedDNA methyltransferase activity. Taken together, CP-WREE might attenuate oxidative stress-induced hepatotoxicity through epigenetically regulating Nrf2-mediated cellular defense system.

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