Protective effects of Scutellaria barbata against hepatocyte apoptosis during hepatic fibrosis progression

Scutellaria barbata is a medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antitumor properties. Limited studies exist on the link between S. barbata and liver fibrosis. The focus of this study is to examine the impact of S. barbata-containing serum on rat hepatocytes undergoing hepatic fibrosis. Molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects are sought to be predicted. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-treated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) supernatant was utilized to produce hepatic fibrosis-like conditions in hepatocytes BRL-3A cultured in vitro. S. barbata-containing serum was used as an intervention, with various dosage groups and a positive drug group (N-acetylcysteine). Cell proliferation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), apoptosis, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins and genes were assessed through various assays and techniques. Bioinformatics analysis was employed to predict target genes and signaling pathways affected by S. barbata. Chemical components of S. barbata in the serum were detected by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QE-MS) was used to identify. Cellular experiments demonstrated that S. barbata-containing serum restored cell proliferation and reduced apoptotic activity induced by the fibrosis model, with a significant downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins (cleaved-Caspase-3, Bax), a substantial upregulation of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL-2, and a substantial elevation in the level of cellular MMP. Bioinformatics analysis highlighted the involvement of S. barbata in hepatocyte apoptosis during liver fibrosis, possibly through pathways like PI3K-Akt. UHPLC-QE-MS identified 29 chemical components of S. barbata in the bloodstream, suggesting their role in anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. S. barbata was found to effectively inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis during hepatic fibrosis.