Gomphrena globosa L. extract alleviates carbon tetrachoride-induced liver injury in mice by activating antioxidant signaling pathways and promoting autophagy

Abstract Background Carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) is highly toxic to animal liver and is a major factor leading to liver injury. Gomphrena globosa L. (GgL) is a comestible plant with anti-inflammation and antioxidation properties. This study was aim to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of GgL on liver injury. Methods and Results A mice model of chronic liver injury was established by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 (0.4 mL/kg) for 3 weeks, and the mice were treated intraperitoneally with different concentrations of GgL crude extract (GgCE; 100, 200, 300 mg/kg) or Bifendatatum (Bif; 20 mg/kg) in the last 2 weeks. The results showed that GgCE treatment could alleviate the liver injury induced by CCL4, improve the pathological changes caused by CCL4 on the mice liver, and enhance the antioxidant capacity. We also found that GgCE increased the expression of antioxidant stress related proteins, decreased the phosphorylation levels of autophagy related proteins PI3K and mTOR, and decreased the expression of LC3 Ⅱ and P62 proteins. Conclusions These results suggest that GgCE alleviated CCL4-induced chronic liver injury in mice by activating antioxidant signaling pathways and promoting autophagy, indicating a potential therapeutic effect of GgCE on liver injury.