Proteomic study on usnic-acid-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

J Agric Food Chem. 2012 Jul 25;60(29):7312-7. doi: 10.1021/jf2046834. Epub 2012 Jul 16.

Abstract

Usnic acid, a lichen metabolite, is used as a dietary supplement for weight loss. However, clinical studies have shown that usnic acid causes hepatotoxicity. The present study aims to investigate the mechanism of usnic acid hepatotoxicity in vivo. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry was used to analyze the expression profiles of differentially regulated and expressed proteins in rat liver after usnic acid administration. The results reveal the differential expression of 10 proteins in usnic-acid-treated rats compared to the normal controls. These proteins are associated with oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, and several other molecular pathways. The endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria may be the primary targets of usnic-acid-induced hepatotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Benzofurans / toxicity*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / etiology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum / drug effects
  • Hepatocytes / ultrastructure
  • Liver Diseases
  • Male
  • Mitochondria, Liver / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Proteins / analysis
  • Proteomics*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Benzofurans
  • Proteins
  • usnic acid