Previous studies indicate that the herb black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.) and the triterpene glycoside actein inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells and activate stress-associated responses. This study assessed the transcriptomic effects of black cohosh and actein on rat liver tissue, using Ingenuity and ToxFX analyses. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with an extract of black cohosh enriched in triterpene glycosides (27%) for 24 h or actein for 6 and 24 h, at 35.7 mg/kg, and liver tissue collected for gene expression analysis. Ingenuity analysis indicates the top canonical pathways are, for black cohosh, RAR Activation, and, for actein, Superpathway of Cholesterol Biosynthesis, at 24 h. Actein alters the expression of cholesterol biosynthetic genes, but does not inhibit HMG-CoA reductase activity. Black cohosh and actein inhibited the growth of human breast and colon cancer cells and synergized with the statin simvastatin. Combinations of black cohosh with certain classes of statins could enhance their activity, as well as toxic, such as inflammatory liver, side effects. Transcriptomic analysis indicates black cohosh and actein warrant further study to prevent and treat cancer and lipid disorders. This study lays the basis for an approach to characterize the mode of action and toxicity of herbal medicines.

先前的研究表明，该草药黑升麻（Actaea racemosaL.）和三萜糖苷肌动蛋白抑制人乳腺癌细胞的生长并激活与压力相关的反应。这项研究使用Ingenuity和ToxFX分析评估了黑升麻和肌动蛋白对大鼠肝脏组织的转录组学作用。用富含三萜糖苷（27％）的黑升麻提取物（24％或肌动蛋白）以35.7 mg / kg的剂量处理Sprague-Dawley大鼠，收集肝组织用于基因表达分析。机敏性分析表明，对于黑色升麻，RAR活化是主要的经典途径，而对于肌动蛋白，在24小时内，胆固醇的超级途径是最常见的途径。肌动蛋白改变胆固醇生物合成基因的表达，但不抑制HMG-CoA还原酶的活性。黑升麻和肌动蛋白抑制人乳腺癌和结肠癌细胞的生长，并与他汀类药物辛伐他汀协同作用。黑升麻与某些类他汀类药物的组合可以增强其活性以及毒性，例如炎症性肝副作用。转录组学分析表明，黑升麻和肌动蛋白值得进一步研究，以预防和治疗癌症和脂质疾病。该研究为表征草药作用方式和毒性的方法奠定了基础。