Steamed Panax notoginseng Saponins Ameliorate Cyclophosphamide-Induced Anemia by Attenuating Gut-Liver Injury and Activating the cAMP/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway
<b>Background:</b> Steamed <i>Panax notoginseng</i> saponins (SPNSs) can alleviate cyclophosphamide-induced anemia. However, the hepatointestinal effects of SPNSs and their role in ameliorating cyclophosphamide-induced anemia remain unexplored. <b>Objective:</b> To elucidate the hepatointestinal effects of SPNSs and their role in ameliorating cyclophosphamide-induced anemia. <b>Methods:</b> Blood samples were collected and analyzed on days 7 and 14. Liver tissues and small intestinal villi structures were observed via HE staining. Liver and colon content metabolites were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Liver proteins were analyzed by using an Orbitrap Astral mass spectrometer. Colon content microbiota composition was assessed via metagenomics. Signaling pathway protein expression was analyzed via Western blotting (WB). <b>Results</b>: SPNSs significantly increased the red blood cell (RBC) count and hemoglobin (HGB) level by day 14 and alleviated hepatointestinal damage. Hepatic metabolomics revealed: the most abundant metabolites were fatty acids and stachyose on day 7 and amino acid and arachidonic acid derivatives on day 14. KEGG analysis implicated cAMP signaling. Proteomics revealed upregulated immune-related proteins and enhanced PI3K pathway activity (WB-validated). Colon content metabolomics showed increased daidzein, 3-(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl) propanoic acid, γ-CEHC, and adenosine in SPNS groups on day 14. Metagenomics indicated differential abundances of <i>Heminiphilus faecis</i>, <i>Phocaeicola sartorii</i>, and <i>s-bacterium_J10.2018</i> on day 14. Multiomics integration demonstrated significant correlations between hepatic metabolites, hematopoietic proteins, colon content metabolites, and probiotic bacteria. <b>Conclusions:</b> SPNS alleviates cyclophosphamide-induced hepato-intestinal injury in anemic mice by modulating the gut microbiota and enhancing hepato-intestinal immune defense. Additionally, SPNSs ameliorate anemia in cyclophosphamide-treated mice by activating the cAMP/PI3K/AKT pathway, promoting hepatocyte proliferation, and increasing hematopoietic protein expression.
Authors
- Qionglian Fang
- Xiuming Cui
- Hao Cui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1445-0136)
- Cuiping Xu
- Pengfei Tu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3848-8174)
Institutions
- Kunming University of Science and Technology (CN)
- Yunnan University (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of the People's Republic of China (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Published
- 2025-10-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213335
- Primary Topic
- Ginseng Biological Effects and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00