Network-Based Bioinformatic Analysis Reveals Hepatoprotective Mechanisms of Garlic Oil against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

Studies have shown that alcohol intake contributes to hepatic injury. Prior research has explored the potential benefits of garlic in safeguarding the liver from alcohol-associated harm. This investigation examined the hepatoprotective potential of garlic oil against alcohol exposure using protein-protein interaction (PPI) network evaluation to uncover novel molecular insights. The dataset GSE40334 was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) repository for processing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with statistical significance were identified through the GEO2R tool. UMAP dimensionality reduction was utilized to assess cluster separation among samples. Cytoscape software version 3.7.2, along with its plugins, facilitated action mapping and gene ontology enrichment to pinpoint vital DEGs and relevant biological pathways. In total, 798 DEGs meeting significance criteria were included in the evaluation. Analysis of the PPI network indicated that two major DEG clusters are prominently involved in the cellular response to garlic oil treatment. Key DEGs identified include Ranbp2, Pafah1b1, Seh1l, Plk1, Cenpa, Mis12, and Tgfb1. Enriched biological processes centered on fundamental cellular activities, including cell proliferation and division. Treatment with garlic oil demonstrates a safeguarding effect against alcohol-related hepatic injury. Of the seven pivotal genes detected, six exhibited modulation that supports improved liver function.