Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway

Background: Metformin (MET) is a dietary polyphenolic compound that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the protective effects of MET in both in vitro and in vivo models against potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatic cells were exposed to KB...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bo Ma, Sheng Zheng, Ning Xie, Juan Yang, Xueli Zeng, Pei Liu, Shunling Zhang, Ji Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0717345825000144
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849319723880153088
author Bo Ma
Sheng Zheng
Ning Xie
Juan Yang
Xueli Zeng
Pei Liu
Shunling Zhang
Ji Li
author_facet Bo Ma
Sheng Zheng
Ning Xie
Juan Yang
Xueli Zeng
Pei Liu
Shunling Zhang
Ji Li
author_sort Bo Ma
collection DOAJ
description Background: Metformin (MET) is a dietary polyphenolic compound that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the protective effects of MET in both in vitro and in vivo models against potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatic cells were exposed to KBrO3 with or without metformin (20, 40, and 60 µM), and cell viability and Reactive Oxygen Species levels were assessed. In vivo, rats were divided into five groups: control, KBrO3, and KBrO3 with metformin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Liver and blood samples were analyzed for histological changes, oxidative stress markers, lipid peroxidation, liver enzymes, and PI3K/Akt signaling. Results: KBrO3 exposure significantly decreased cell viability and increased ROS levels. Co-treatment with MET dose-dependently restored cell viability, with 60 µM MET achieving approximately 80% viability. Metformin also reduced ROS levels, with mean fluorescence intensity approaching control values at higher concentrations. In the in vivo study, KBrO3 exposure elevated lipid peroxidation markers, depleted antioxidant enzyme activities, and triggered oxidative stress and inflammation. Metformin significantly alleviated histological liver damage, suppressed proinflammatory cytokines, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and modulated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to promote cell survival and reduce oxidative injury. Conclusions: Metformin effectively protects hepatic cells against KBrO3-induced cytotoxicity by improving cell viability and reducing Reactive Oxygen Species levels. Metformin successfully mitigates KBrO3-induced hepatic injury by reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory pathways (NF-kB), and regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade, offering molecular evidence of its hepatoprotective effects.How to cite: Ma B, Zheng S, Xie N, et al. Metformin mitigates potassium bromate induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.03.002.
format Article
id doaj-art-8717b90ef3d34d84a0fa43d3a5528f71
institution Kabale University
issn 0717-3458
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
spelling doaj-art-8717b90ef3d34d84a0fa43d3a5528f712025-08-20T03:50:21ZengElsevierElectronic Journal of Biotechnology0717-34582025-07-017611110.1016/j.ejbt.2025.03.002Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathwayBo Ma0Sheng Zheng1Ning Xie2Juan Yang3Xueli Zeng4Pei Liu5Shunling Zhang6Ji Li7Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, ChinaDepartment of Gastroenterology, The Third People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Disease, The 908th Hospital of Chinese People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force, Nanchang, Jiangxi, ChinaDepartment of Science and Education, The Third People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, Yunnan, ChinaGraduate School of Clinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, ChinaGraduate School of Clinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, ChinaGraduate School of Clinical Medicine, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, ChinaDepartment of Hepatobiliary Surgery, People’s Hospital of He Chuan ChongQing Chongqing, China; Corresponding author.Background: Metformin (MET) is a dietary polyphenolic compound that exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study evaluated the protective effects of MET in both in vitro and in vivo models against potassium bromate (KBrO3)-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatic cells were exposed to KBrO3 with or without metformin (20, 40, and 60 µM), and cell viability and Reactive Oxygen Species levels were assessed. In vivo, rats were divided into five groups: control, KBrO3, and KBrO3 with metformin (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg). Liver and blood samples were analyzed for histological changes, oxidative stress markers, lipid peroxidation, liver enzymes, and PI3K/Akt signaling. Results: KBrO3 exposure significantly decreased cell viability and increased ROS levels. Co-treatment with MET dose-dependently restored cell viability, with 60 µM MET achieving approximately 80% viability. Metformin also reduced ROS levels, with mean fluorescence intensity approaching control values at higher concentrations. In the in vivo study, KBrO3 exposure elevated lipid peroxidation markers, depleted antioxidant enzyme activities, and triggered oxidative stress and inflammation. Metformin significantly alleviated histological liver damage, suppressed proinflammatory cytokines, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, and modulated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to promote cell survival and reduce oxidative injury. Conclusions: Metformin effectively protects hepatic cells against KBrO3-induced cytotoxicity by improving cell viability and reducing Reactive Oxygen Species levels. Metformin successfully mitigates KBrO3-induced hepatic injury by reducing oxidative stress, modulating inflammatory pathways (NF-kB), and regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling cascade, offering molecular evidence of its hepatoprotective effects.How to cite: Ma B, Zheng S, Xie N, et al. Metformin mitigates potassium bromate induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway. Electron J Biotechnol 2025;76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2025.03.002.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0717345825000144AntiinflammatoryAntioxidant activityHepatic cellsHepatoprotectivityMetforminOxidative stress
spellingShingle Bo Ma
Sheng Zheng
Ning Xie
Juan Yang
Xueli Zeng
Pei Liu
Shunling Zhang
Ji Li
Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway
Electronic Journal of Biotechnology
Antiinflammatory
Antioxidant activity
Hepatic cells
Hepatoprotectivity
Metformin
Oxidative stress
title Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway
title_full Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway
title_fullStr Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway
title_full_unstemmed Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway
title_short Metformin mitigates potassium bromate-induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating NF-kB and PI3K/Akt pathway
title_sort metformin mitigates potassium bromate induced liver grievance in rat through attenuating nf kb and pi3k akt pathway
topic Antiinflammatory
Antioxidant activity
Hepatic cells
Hepatoprotectivity
Metformin
Oxidative stress
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0717345825000144
work_keys_str_mv AT boma metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT shengzheng metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT ningxie metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT juanyang metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT xuelizeng metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT peiliu metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT shunlingzhang metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway
AT jili metforminmitigatespotassiumbromateinducedlivergrievanceinratthroughattenuatingnfkbandpi3kaktpathway