The Combined Effect of Licorice Extract and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Cisplatin-Induced Hepatocellular Damage in Rats

Abstract

Drug-induced liver damage is a life-threatening disorder, and one major form of it is the hepatotoxicity induced by the drug cisplatin. In folk medicine, Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra (is used for detoxification and is believed to be a potent antioxidant. Currently, the magically self-renewable potential of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) has prompted us to explore their hepatoregenerative capability. The impact of G. glabra extract (GGE) and BM-MSCs alone and, in combination, on protecting against hepatotoxicity was tested on cisplatin-induced liver injury in rats. Hepatic damage, as revealed by liver histopathology and increased levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and malondialdehyde (MDA), was elevated in rats by received 7 mg/kg of cisplatin intraperitoneally. The combination of GGE and BM-MSCs returned the enzyme levels to near the normal range. It also improved levels of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and reduced MDA levels. Additionally, it was found that when GGE and BM-MSCs were used together, they significantly downregulated caspase9 (Casp9), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), which are involved in severe proinflammatory and apoptotic signaling cascades in the liver. Moreover, combining GGE and BM-MSCs led to the normal result of hepatocytes in several examined liver histological sections. Therefore, our findings suggest that GGE may have protective effects against oxidative liver damage and the promising regenerative potential of BM-MSCs.

An outlook on the target‐based molecular mechanism of phytoconstituents as immunomodulators

“…Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide promoted IFN‐γ, IL‐4, CD3+, CD4+ T lymphocyte, and DC maturation (Wu et al, 2022). Glycyrrhiza glabra extract downregulate NF‐κB, IL‐1β, caspase 9, and activated B cells (Mobasher et al, 2023).…”

Cardioprotective Effects of α-Asarone Against Hexavalent Chromium-Induced Oxidative Damage in Mice

“…If proven, it could lead to significant shifts in public health policies, particularly in areas with high exposure to heavy metals. 8–10 It also opens up new avenues for preventive strategies and therapeutic interventions targeting heavy metal detoxification and antioxidant defense systems. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise biological mechanisms by which heavy metals influence cardiovascular health and developing effective strategies to mitigate these risks.…”