Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata Extract Enhances Liver Regeneration Through AMPK-Driven Metabolic Reprogramming

Background: Liver regeneration is essential for restoring hepatic mass after injury or resection, with metabolic reprogramming as a critical driver. Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata (RRP), a traditional Chinese medicine for chronic liver diseases, regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. This study evaluated the effects of RRP on liver regeneration and explored the underlying mechanisms. Methods: A 70% partial hepatectomy (PHx) mouse model was employed, and integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were conducted to characterize the global features of RRP-induced metabolic reprogramming and its association with hepatocyte proliferation. To further validate these findings, the AML12 hepatocyte cell line and primary mouse hepatocytes were used to identify key targets of RRP. Results: RRP significantly enhanced liver regeneration, as evidenced by the upregulation of hepatocyte proliferation markers. Transcriptomic, metabolomic, and biochemical analyses showed that RRP promoted lipid catabolism and H3K27ac remodeling-dependent hepatocyte proliferation by increasing acetyl-CoA flux. RRP also enhanced carbohydrate consumption and pentose phosphate pathway, as well as protecting mitochondrial integrity, which contribute to both energy production and nucleotide synthesis during cell cycle progression. Notably, RRP-induced AMPK activation was involved in these metabolic reprogramming events, since pharmacological inhibition of AMPK with Compound C attenuated the promotive effects of RRP on liver regeneration. Conclusions: RRP promotes liver regeneration by enhancing metabolic reprogramming mediated by AMPK activation, highlighting its therapeutic potential for metabolic adaptation and postoperative recovery in compromised liver.