Metabolomics Study on the Liver Protection Effect of Total Flavone Extract from Penthorum Chinense Pursh on Alcoholic Fatty Liver in Mice

OBJECTIVE To explore the biomarkers for the protective effect of total flavones of Penthorum chinense Pursh(PCP) on alcoholic fatty liver in mice by using metabolomics technology. METHODS Alcoholic fatty liver mouse model was established by using 5% alcohol of Lieber-Decarli liquid feed. Observing the pathological slices liver tissue in mice, and determining biochemical index levels of mice serum including ALT, AST and GSH, and using the UPLC-Q/TOF-MS metabolomics technology, combined with partial least squares discrimination analysis(PLS-DA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA) methods to screening biomarkers related to alcoholic liver injury that treated by PCP, reveal out the function of PCP protecting liver and its metabolic pathways. RESULTS PCP could significantly reduce the levels of ALT, AST and increase the content of GSH in the serum of alcoholic fatty liver mice, and improve fatty liver degeneration and inflammation. Metabolomics analysis showed that PCP could regulate the abnormal level of 4-acetamidobutanoate, 9-cis-retinol, oleamide, Taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5alpha-yl acetate, 3alpha,12alpha-dihydroxy-5beta- chol-6-enoate and sphinganine in the serum of alcoholic fatty liver mice. Through the analysis of metabolic pathway, the protective effect of PCP on alcoholic fatty liver was mainly related to the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism pathway. CONCLUSION This study preliminarily reveale that PCP may play a role in the treatment of alcoholic fatty liver by regulating sphingolipid metabolism.