Metabolomics investigation reveals metabolic mediators associated with Ligusticum wallichii-relieving experimental acute pancreatitis

GC/MS-based metabolomics was utilized to characterize the metabolome. Intraperitoneal injection of L. wallichii extracts protected against lung, liver, and kidney injury in rats with caerulein-induced AP. GC/MS-based metabolomics analysis revealed that L. wallichii treatment could restore caerulein-induced alteration of the abundance of most metabolites.

These differential metabolites enriched twelve metabolic pathways that were able to be reprogrammed by L. wallichii administration. L. wallichii impacted arginine metabolism by inhibiting arginase expression and activity. Inhibition of arginase by S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC) could relieve caerulein-induced AP, suggesting that suppression of arginase is a potential mechanism for L. wallichii to ameliorate AP.

Our data provide inter-relationship between metabolic reprogramming and anti-AP effects of L. wallichii extracts in rats and highlight the potential of metabolic reprogramming against AP pathogenesis.