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Updated: May 29, 2026

Human Liver Microphysiological System for Assessing Drug-Induced Liver Toxicity In Vitro
Published on: January 31, 2022
Inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain is involved in triptolide-induced liver injury
Qiang Fu1, Xiao Huang, Bin Shu
1Jiangsu Center for Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, 24 Tong Jia Xiang, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
Abstract:
Triptolide, a diterpenoid epoxide, is one of the major active ingredients of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, a woody vine plant called lei gong teng in China, which is used in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating many diseases. In this paper, we investigate the relation between inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain and liver injury induced by triptolide. Results indicate that the secondary β-oxidation impairment caused by inhibition of mitochondrial respiratory chain is involved in triptolide-induced liver injury, which featured by microvesicular steatosis, hyperlactacidemia and enhanced oxidant stress, although other mechanisms of triptolide-induced liver injury may also exist.
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