Protective effect of tormentic acid from Potentilla chinensis against lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine induced fulminant hepatic failure in mice
Authors: Shimei Tan
Xing Lin
Shijun Zhang
Shuang Liang
Quanfang Huang
Renbin Huang
Lang Zhuo
Xiaoyan Wu
Journal: International Immunopharmacology (2014)
Discipline: PHARMACOLOGY & TOXICOLOGY
Keywords: Fulminant hepatic failure; Lipopolysaccharide/d-galactosamine; Potentilla chinensis; Tormentic acid.
Affiliations: Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China., The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China., The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China. Electronic address: .

Abstract:  A compound was isolated from Potentilla chinensis, and it was identified as tormentic acid (TA) based on its physicochemical properties and spectral data. The hepatoprotective effect of TA was evaluated using an acute liver failure model induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN). The results revealed that TA significantly prevented LPS/D-GalN-induced fulminant hepatic failure, as evidenced by the decrease in serum aminotransferase and total bilirubin activities and the attenuation of histopathological changes. TA alleviated the pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α and NO/iNOS by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity. Moreover, TA strongly inhibited lipid peroxidation, recruited the anti-oxidative defense system, and increased HO-1 activity. In addition, TA significantly attenuated increases in TUNEL-positive hepatocytes through decreasing the levels of cytochrome c, as well as caspases-3, 8 and 9, while augmenting the expression of Bcl-2. In conclusion, TA protects hepatocytes against LPS/D-GalN-induced injury by blocking NF-κB signaling pathway for anti-inflammatory response and attenuating hepatocellular apoptosis. Consequently, TA is a potential agent for preventing acute liver injury and may be a major bioactive ingredient of Potentilla chinensis. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Figure 5 A1 and A2 look like having quite several repeated patterns ![file] , 
 Fig 5A3. ![file] , 
 Fig 2A. ![] I have concerns about 2A1 and 2A6. ![file] Brown box in 2A6 involves a horizontal flip. ![file] , 
 Fig 2A4. Areas are repeated after a horizontal flip (blue boxes) or a rotation (black boxes). ![file] , 
 #3 Fig 2 again:  TA-mediated histological changes (H E staining, 100u00d7). A1: normal control group, A2: TA control group, A3: model control group, A4: 1.5 mg kg TA-treated group, **A5: 3 mg kg TA-treated group**, and A6: 50 mg kg silymarin treated group. ![] Panel A5 also appears in Fig. 2VI of [Lin et al (2014)] .  Histomorphological Examination (H E Staining, 100u00d7) I: normal group; II: genistein control group; III: LPS D-GalN group (model control group); IVu2013VI: 0.5, 1 and **2 mg kg genistein-treated** groups. ![file] , 
 #5 Concerns about Fig. 2VI of Lin et al (2014) apply with equal force to the present colored version, Fig 2A5. ![] , 
 Corrected [January 2021] . --------------------------- The authors regret for the incorrect publication of Fig. 2, Fig. 5A in the original article. The correct figures are provided in this corrigendum. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused. ![] Fig. 2. TA-mediated histological changes (H E staining, 100u00d7). A1: normal control group, A2: TA control group, A3: model control group, A4: 1.5 mg kg TA-treated group, A5: 3 mg kg TA-treated group, and A6: 50 mg kg silymarin treated group. ![] Fig. 5. Effects of TA on apoptotic cells. A: TUNEL staining (200u00d7), A1: normal group, A2: TA control group, A3: model group, A4: 1.5 mg kg TA-treated group, A5: 3 mg kg TA-treated group, and A6: 50 mg kg silymarin treated group. The authors apologize for the inconvenience caused. , 
 #7 I agree with the authors that it was unfortunate that the original Figures 2 and 5A were published. I feel, though, that the Corrigendum note could be longer. It appears that the authors had prepared one Figs 2 5A pair which is genuine and features in the correction; and a second pair with the appearance of collage, overlapping with images used in other papers; and they used the second pair by mistake. I would welcome a fuller explanation of how that second pair came to exist. It would also be useful to learn more of the journal editors reasoning, when they decided to accept the replacement. They are not alone in this approach to regrettable illustrations. I compiled the following list of regret, from a range of journals but involving an overlapping roster of authors: -------------------------------------------------------  The authors regret that the wrong Figures 7 and 8 were published . [Hepatoprotective effects of total saponins isolated from Taraphochlamys affinis against carbon tetrachloride induced liver injury in rats] . QuanFang Huang, ShiJun Zhang, Li Zheng, Min He, RenBin Huang, Xing Lin, *Food and chemical toxicology* (2012). -------------------------------------------  The authors regret the incorrect publication of Figs. 3B, 3D, 4, 5B and 5C in the original article . [Antiviral activity of methyl helicterate isolated from Helicteres angustifolia (Sterculiaceae) against hepatitis B virus] . Quanfang Huang , Renbin Huang , Ling Wei , Yongxing Chen , Shujuan Lv , Chunhong Liang , Xuerong Zhang , Fujiang Yin , Hongtao Li , Lang Zhuo , Xing Lin, *Antiviral Research* (2013). ----------------------------------------------  The authors regret that the wrong Fig. 4, Fig. 6, Fig. 7 were published. [Protective effect of madecassoside against cognitive impairment induced by D-galactose in mice] . Xing Lin , Shijun Zhang , Renbin Huang , Ling Wei , Shimei Tan , Chunhong Liang , Shujuan Lv , Yongxin Chen , Shuang Liang , Yuanchun Tian , Zhongpeng Lu , Quanfang Huang, *Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior* (2014). --------------------------------------------------  The authors regret for the incorrect publication of Fig. 2, Fig. 5A in the original article. [Protective effect of tormentic acid from Potentilla chinensis against lipopolysaccharide D-galactosamine induced fulminant hepatic failure in mice] . Xing Lin , Shijun Zhang , Renbin Huang , Shimei Tan , Shuang Liang , Xiaoyan Wu , Lang Zhuo , Quanfang Huang, *International Immunopharmacology* (2014). ------------------------------------------------------  The authors regret that the wrong Figs. 3, 6B, 8 and 9 were published. [Didymin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction and up-regulation of RKIP in human hepatoma cells] . Jinbin Wei , Quanfang Huang , Facheng Bai , Jun Lin , Jinlan Nie , Shengjuan Lu , Chunyuang Lu , Renbin Huang , Zhongpeng Lu , Xing Lin, *Chemico-Biological Interactions* (2017). -----------------------------------------------  The authors regret the incorrect publication of Figs. 3A, 4, 7, 8B and 11 in the original article . [Methyl helicterilate ameliorates alcohol-induced hepatic fibrosis by modulating TGF-u03b21 Smads pathway and mitochondria-dependent pathway] . Shujuan Wen , Yuanyuan Wei , Xiaolin Zhang , Facheng Bai , Shimei Tan , Jinlan Nie , Jinbin Wei, Xing Lin, *International Immunopharmacology* (2019). ,