Isomaculosidine facilitates NLRP3 inflammasome activation by promoting mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production and causes idiosyncratic liver injury.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. (Dictamni Cortex, DC), a Chinese herbal medicine, is commonly used for treating chronic dermatosis and rheumatism, but can also cause herb-induced liver injury (HILI). Our study has demonstrated that DC can induce idiosyncratic HILI, but the mechanism remains unknown.

Pharmacological effects of Chinese medicine modulating NLRP3 inflammasomes in fatty liver treatment.

Inflammation is a key contributing factor in the pathogenesis of fatty liver diseases (FLD), such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and alcohol-associated liver diseases (ALDs). The NLRP3 inflammasome is widely present in the hepatic parenchymal and non-parenchymal cells, which are assembled and activated by sensing intracellular and extracellular danger signals resulting in the matures of IL-1β/IL-18 and pyroptosis. Moreover, the aberrant activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is considered the main factor to drives immune outbreaks in relation to hepatic injury, inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis.

Discovery of bakuchiol as an AIM2 inflammasome activator and cause of hepatotoxicity.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Psoralea corylifolia (P. corylifolia Linn.) is a traditional Chinese medicinal plant that exhibits significant aphrodisiac, diuretic, and anti-rheumatic effects.