HSYA from safflower mitigates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a common complication during liver transplantation and surgery, characterised by oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, which contribute to hepatocyte damage and impaired liver function. Safflower, known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, has not been fully explored for its potential to alleviate liver IRI.This study aims to investigate the effects of safflower components on oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in liver IRI. A microfluidic liver cell ischemia-reperfusion model was employed to screen safflower components for their protective effects against oxidative stress and apoptosis. The effects of HSYA and other compounds were assessed by measuring cell viability, ROS levels, apoptosis, DNA damage (8-oxo-dG), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6). HSYA exhibited superior protective effects, significantly reducing ROS, apoptosis, DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation. It also decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, underscoring its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.These findings suggest that HSYA effectively mitigates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in liver IRI, positioning it as a promising candidate for therapeutic liver protection.