Exocarpium Citri Grandis Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Liver Injury Through Dual Suppression of Data for Inflammatory Response and Apoptotic Pathways

This study investigates Exocarpium Citri Grandis (ECG)'s therapeutic effects on LPS-induced acute liver injury (ALI) through network pharmacology and murine models. ECG treatment significantly reduced serum AST/ALT levels and alleviated hepatic damage in mice, as confirmed by histopathological analysis. The herbal extract demonstrated dual anti-inflammatory and anti-cell death mechanisms by downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα) through qPCR analysis, while simultaneously modulating apoptosis and ferroptosis markers. Network pharmacology revealed ECG's multi-target action on critical pathways involving inflammation regulation and cell survival. Molecular docking simulations validated interactions between ECG's bioactive components and key apoptotic/inflammatory regulators. These findings position ECG as a promising natural therapeutic for ALI treatment, combining traditional medicinal use with evidence-based mechanisms of action. The integrated approach confirms ECG's potential to mitigate liver injury through coordinated modulation of inflammatory responses and programmed cell death pathways, warranting further clinical exploration of this traditional Chinese medicine for managing severe hepatic conditions.