Abstract
Eurya chinensis has been recorded as a folk medicine traditionally used for treatment of a variety
of symptoms. However, the phytochemical and pharmacological investigations of this
plant are still scarce. A novel phenolic glycoside named Euryachincoside (ECS) was
isolated by chromatographic separation from E. chinensis, and its chemical structure was identified
by analysis of HRMS and NMR data. Its anti-hepatic fibrosis effects were evaluated
in both HSC-T6 (rat hepatic stellate cells) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced mice with
Silybin (SLB) as the positive control. In an in vitro study, ECS showed little cytotoxicity and inhibited transforming growth factor-beta
(TGF-β)-induced Collagen I (Col1)
along with alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expressions in HSC-T6. An in vivo study suggested ECS significantly ameliorated hepatic injury, secretions of inflammatory
cytokines, and collagen depositions. Moreover, ECS markedly mediated Smad2/3, nuclear
factor kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathways
both in vitro and vivo. These present findings confirmed that ECS is a novel phenolic glycoside from E. chinensis with promising curative effects on hepatic fibrosis,
and its mechanisms may include decreasing extracellular matrix accumulation, reducing
inflammation and attenuating free radicals via Smad2/3, NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways, which
may shed light on the exploration of more effective phenolic glycoside-based anti-fibrotic
agents.
Key words
Eurya chinensis
- Thaceae - Euryachincoside - phenolic glycoside - hepatic fibrosis
