We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Protective effects of exocarpium citri grandis extract and its flavonoid components against polystyrene microplastic-induced hepatointestinal injury
AI summary Read the abstract
In mice exposed to polystyrene microplastics, a citrus peel extract used in traditional Chinese medicine (Exocarpium Citri Grandis) and two of its flavonoids, naringenin and naringin, reduced oxidative stress and eased liver and intestinal injury. The extract also shifted gut bacteria and raised levels of tight junction proteins in the intestine.
UNLABELLED: Microplastics (MPs) pose potential risks to human health due to their persistence and biotoxicity, mainly by inducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut microbiota imbalance. Exocarpium Citri Grandis (ECG), a traditional Chinese medicine with both medicinal and dietary value, has shown notable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. In this study, UHPLC-Q-TOF MS profiling combined with network pharmacology analysis was applied to identify the principal effective ingredients of ECG and to evaluate its protective effects on polystyrene microplastic (PS) -induced hepatic and intestinal toxicity in mice. ECG and its main parts, naringenin and naringin, greatly reduced the oxidative stress caused by PS. They also eased liver injury and improved the intestinal barrier. ECG was associated with reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, accompanied by changes in the TLR4/NF-κB/NLRP3 and Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. It also improved intestinal structural integrity by increasing the levels of tight junction proteins. Gut microbiota analysis revealed that ECG intervention significantly improved PS-associated disruptions in microbial diversity and enriched beneficial genera such as , , and . Metabolomic profiling showed that ECG significantly altered 1,507 PS-associated metabolic features, notably inhibiting pro-inflammatory arachidonic acid metabolism and upregulating antioxidant-related ubiquinone biosynthesis. Correlation analysis further linked key microbial shifts (e.g., Clostridia) with specific metabolite changes. In summary, ECG significantly alleviates PS-induced hepatoenterotoxicity through multi-level modulation of inflammatory, antioxidant, and gut microbiota-metabolite interactions, antioxidant, and gut microbiota-metabolism effects, providing new insights into the use of natural products to prevent and control health risks associated with MPs. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10616-026-00921-z.
More Papers Like This
Narirutin ameliorates polystyrene microplastics induced nephrotoxicity by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation and Nrf2/Keap1 pathway
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether narirutin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could protect kidneys from damage caused by polystyrene microplastics in rats. The study suggests that microplastic exposure triggered significant kidney stress through oxidation and inflammation, but narirutin helped reduce that damage by activating protective cellular pathways.
Attenuative effects of tamarixetin against polystyrene microplastics‐induced hepatotoxicity in rats by regulation of Nrf‐2/Keap‐1 pathway
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers investigated whether tamarixetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, could reduce liver damage caused by polystyrene microplastic exposure in rats. The study found that tamarixetin helped protect against microplastic-induced liver toxicity by activating antioxidant defense pathways, suggesting potential protective effects of certain plant-derived compounds against microplastic-related oxidative stress.
Quercetin attenuates polystyrene nanoplastic-induced intestinal barrier injury through modulation of macrophage inflammatory responses
AI summary Read the abstract
In mice and lab-grown cells, nanoscale polystyrene plastic particles damaged the gut lining and triggered inflammatory immune cell activity. Quercetin, a plant compound, reduced this inflammation and partially restored proteins that help keep the intestinal barrier intact.
Quercetin intervention mitigates small intestinal damage and immunologic derangement induced by polystyrene nanoplastics: Insights from multi-omics analysis in mice
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers found that quercetin, a natural compound found in fruits and vegetables, protected mice from gut damage and immune system disruption caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. The nanoplastics damaged the small intestine and disrupted immune balance, but quercetin reversed much of this harm by restoring healthy gut bacteria and gene activity. This suggests that dietary compounds like quercetin might help counteract some negative health effects of nanoplastic exposure.
Didymin protects against polystyrene nanoplastic-induced hepatic damage in male albino rats by modulation of Nrf-2/Keap-1 pathway
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers tested whether didymin, a natural compound found in citrus fruits, could protect rat livers from damage caused by polystyrene nanoplastics. They found that didymin significantly reduced oxidative stress and inflammation by activating a key protective cellular pathway. The study suggests that certain dietary compounds may help counteract some of the harmful effects of nanoplastic exposure on the liver.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.