Chicoric acid ameliorates rat salpingitis by inhibiting the Nrf2/Notch1 signaling pathway

Salpingitis is a challenging condition for reproductive-aged women, causing problems ranging from chronic pain to infertility. Chicoric acid, a polyphenolic acid compound obtained from plants, such as Cichorium intybus, Echinacea pallida, Taraxacum officinale, and other edible plants, exhibits antiviral, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activities. The potential utility of chicoric acid in the management of salpingitis warrants prompt investigation. Following the successful construction of a salpingitis model, a series of experimental analyses were conducted to assess the effects of chicoric acid at dosages of 10 mg/kg body weight and 30 mg/kg body weight. The results indicated that chicoric acid exhibited protective effects against salpingitis by reducing levels of TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α), IL-1β (interleukin-1β), and IL-6 (interleukin-6), leading to suppressing oxidative stress. Furthermore, chicoric acid was found to activate nuclear factor E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) signaling, subsequently regulating the neurogenic locus notch homolog receptor-1 (Notch1) pathway to mitigate necroptosis, thereby mitigating oviduct inflammation. To validate the regulatory effect of chicoric acid on the Nrf2/Notch1 axis, rescue experiments were conducted using ML385 (an Nrf2 inhibitor) and DAPT (a Notch inhibitor) to assess their impact on the pharmacological efficacy of chicoric acid. Collectively, the advantageous impacts of chicoric acid on salpingitis rats have been linked to the suppression of necroptosis via the Nrf2/Notch1 axis.