In recent years, Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam. (jackfruit) polysaccharides (namely JFP-Ps) have attracted much attention due to their multiple biological activities. This study aimed to explore the protective effects and the underlying mechanisms of JFP-Ps on cyclophosphamide (Cp)-induced liver damage. The protective effect of JFP-Ps was evaluated using HE staining, antioxidant testing, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), Western blot and ultra-performance liquid chromatography equipped with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) metabolomics analysis. The results showed that Cp caused pathological liver damage, activated oxidative stress and downregulated cytokine expression, while JFP-Ps treatment was found to exert antioxidant effects and play immune regulatory roles through mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB (MAPK/NF-κB) related inflammation and cell apoptosis pathways to protect the Cp-induced liver injury. Metabolomic results showed that the liver-protective effects of JFP-Ps were mainly related to aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) biosynthesis, sphingolipid metabolism, purine metabolism and the citrate cycle. These results indicate that JFP-Ps have great potential application in alleviating liver injury.
Keywords: jackfruit polysaccharides; liver injury; metabolomics; protective effects.