Metabolomics and targeted amino acid analysis reveal the liver protective effect of arginyl-fructosyl-glucose from red ginseng on acute liver injury in mice

Arginyl-fructosyl-glucose (AFG) is one of the typical active non-saponins in red ginseng. This study investigates the hepatoprotective effects of AFG against acute liver injury (ALI) induced by D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. A metabolomics study was performed to clarify the hepatoprotective effect mechanisms of AFG on ALI. Eight metabolites were identified in the liver samples as potential biomarkers responsible for the hepatoprotective effect of AFG. The pathway analysis showed that the hepatoprotective effects of AFG were associated with amino acid metabolism and oxidative stress. Amino acid quantitative results revealed that Hyp, Harg, Aad, β-Ala, and Abu significantly changed after the pretreatment with AFG. In addition, AFG pre-treatment attenuated the upregulated Nrf2 and HO-1, and enhanced the expression level of Mrp2 in liver. These results has demonstrated a promising hepatoprotective of AFG for ALI, and AFG is expected to become a functional food with hepatoprotective effect.