The paradox of Picroside II: As a natural antioxidant, but may instead futher aggravate liver injury by exacerbating mitochondrial oxidative stress.

Our results suggest that the effects of PII depend on the hepatic physiological or pathological state at the time of intervention. While PII possesses the potential to avert drug-induced acute hepatic injury through the mitigation of oxidative stress, its administration post-injury may exacerbate the hepatic damage, underscoring the critical importance of timing in therapeutic interventions.