Preventive effects of turmeric on the high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidaemia in mice associated with a targeted metabolomic approach for the analysis of serum lysophosphatidylcholine using LC-MS/MS

Study based on metabolomics and network pharmacology to explore the mechanism of Ginseng-Douch compound fermentation products in the treatment of hyperlipidemia

BACKGROUND

Ginseng-Douchi (GD) is a complex fermented product of ginseng and soybean, similar to natto, and is effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, but the mechanism of action involved needs to be further explored.

RESULTS

The present study combines a comprehensive strategy of network pharmacology and metabolomics to explore the lipid-lowering mechanism of GD. First, a hyperlipidemia rats model induced by a high-fat diet was established to evaluate the therapeutic effects of GD. Second, potential biomarkers were identified using serum metabolomics and metabolic pathway analysis was performed with MetaboAnalyst. Third, network pharmacology is used to find potential therapeutic targets based on the blood-influencing components of GD. Finally, core targets were obtained through a target-metabolite and the enrichment analysis of biomarkers-genes. Biochemistry analysis showed that GD exerted hypolipidemic effects on hyperlipidemic rats. Nineteen potential biomarkers for the GD treatment of hyperlipidemia were identified by metabolomics, which was mainly involved in linoleic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, ether lipid metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchor biosynthesis. GD had a callback function for ether lipid metabolism and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways. Eighteen blood components were identified in serum, associated with 85 potential therapeutic targets. The joint analysis showed that three core therapeutic targets were regulated by GD, including PIK3CA, AKT1 and EGFR.

CONCLUSION

This study combines serum medicinal chemistry of traditional Chinese medicine, network pharmacology and metabolomics to reveal the regulatory mechanism of GD on hyperlipidemia. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Quantitative proteomics of plasma and liver reveals the mechanism of turmeric in preventing hyperlipidemia in mice

Hyperlipidemia is manifested by abnormal levels of circulating lipids and may lead to various cardiovascular diseases. Studies have demonstrated that turmeric supplemented in food can effectively prevent hyperlipidemia. The aim of this study is to elucidate the underlying mechanism. 27 male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups, which were fed with a standard diet, a high-fat diet and a high-fat diet supplemented with turmeric powder (2.0% w/w), respectively. After eight weeks of feeding, turmeric intervention significantly reduced the plasma TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio of mice compared with high-fat diet fed mice. TMT-based proteomic analysis showed that the expression of 24 proteins in mouse plasma and 76 proteins in mouse liver was significantly altered by turmeric, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that differential proteins in the plasma were mainly involved in complement and coagulation cascades and the cholesterol metabolism pathway. The differential proteins in the liver were mainly involved in arachidonic acid metabolism, steroid hormone biosynthesis and the PPAR signaling pathway. Key differential proteins were successfully validated by western blot analysis. This study is the first to reveal the preventive mechanism of turmeric on hyperlipidemia from proteomics. The results showed that dietary turmeric could prevent hyperlipidemia through regulating the expression of proteins in metabolism pathways.

Untargeted Metabolomics Analysis Revealed Lipometabolic Disorders in Perirenal Adipose Tissue of Rabbits Subject to a High-Fat Diet

Simply Summary

A high-fat diet is widely recognized as a significant modifiable risk for metabolic diseases. In this study, untargeted metabolomics, combined with liquid chromatography and high-resolution mass spectrometry, was used to evaluate perirenal adipose tissue metabolic changes. Our study revealed 206 differential metabolites. These metabolites were mainly associated with the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, and the platelet activation pathway. Our study revealed that a high-fat diet causes significant lipometabolic disorders; these metabolites may inhibit oxygen respiration by increasing adipocytes cells and density, cause mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction, produce inflammation, and finally lead to insulin resistance, thereby increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other metabolic syndromes.

Abstract

A high-fat diet (HFD) is widely recognized as a significant modifiable risk for insulin resistance, inflammation, Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and other metabolic diseases. However, the biological mechanism responsible for key metabolic disorders in the PAT of rabbits subject to HFD remains unclear. Here, untargeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS) combined with liquid chromatography (LC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) were used to evaluate PAT metabolic changes. Histological observations showed that the adipocytes cells and density of PAT were significantly increased in HFD rabbits. Our study revealed 206 differential metabolites (21 up-regulated and 185 down-regulated); 47 differential metabolites (13 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated), comprising mainly phospholipids, fatty acids, steroid hormones and amino acids, were chosen as potential biomarkers to help explain metabolic disorders caused by HFD. These metabolites were mainly associated with the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, and the platelet activation pathway. Our study revealed that a HFD caused significant lipometabolic disorders. These metabolites may inhibit oxygen respiration by increasing the adipocytes cells and density, cause mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum dysfunction, produce inflammation, and finally lead to insulin resistance, thus increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and other metabolic syndromes.

Screening of lipid metabolism biomarkers in patients with coronary heart disease via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has a high mortality worldwide. This study aimed to screen lipid metabolism biomarkers in patients with coronary heart disease via ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. Extraction and reconstitution solvents, liquid chromatographic and mass spectrometry conditions were optimized to detect more plasma lipid metabolites. In this study, the chromatographic and mass spectra characteristics of lipid metabolites were summarized. A total of 316 lipid metabolites were annotated via diagnostic fragment ion filtration, nitrogen rule filtration, and neutral loss filtration. Glycerophospholipid metabolism and sphingolipid metabolism were revealed as the main lipid disorders of CHD. This study provides a novel insight for high-throughput detection of lipid metabolites in plasma and provides a further understanding of the occurrence of CHD, which can provide valuable suggestions for the prevention of CHD.

Qualitative distribution of endogenous phosphatidylcholine and sphingomyelin in serum using LC-MS/MS based profiling

PCs and SMs are the major types of glycerophospholipids and sphingophospholipids, the two main categories of phospholipids (PLs). To study the qualitative distribution of serum phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) in human and three rodent species, liquid chromatography-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (LC-Orbitrap-MS/MS) was used to identify them comprehensively through the accurate mass measurement of both precursor ions and their corresponding product ions. Based on the fragmentation rules of standards, the product ions at m/z 184.0733 were filtered to maximally screen possible PC and SM molecules. For PC, the fatty acid at sn-1 and sn-2 of the glycerol backbone was identified based on the product ions in negative mode. A total of 91 PCs and 31 SMs molecular species, consisting of 166 PCs and 39 SMs regioisomers, were detected in human serum, which is the most comprehensive identification of PC and SM species in serum. The qualitative distributions of PC in rat and SM in golden hamster, respectively, were more similar with that of human from an overall perspective. Those results provided guidance regarding to the animal model selection for mimicking lipid related-syndromes or diseases in human.

The hypoglycemic effect of extract/fractions from Fuzhuan Brick-Tea in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and their active components characterized by LC-QTOF-MS/MS

Fuzhuan Brick-Tea is a postfermented product with the hypoglycemic effect, which is prepared from the leaves of Camellia sinensis var. sinensis. However, the material basis associated with the hypoglycemic effect was not clear. The present research was designed to explore the hypoglycemic effect of extract/fractions from Fuzhuan Brick-Tea in streptozotocin-induced type II diabetic mice. Then an ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography along with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry was used to analyze the phytochemicals in Fuzhuan Brick-Tea fractions. As a result, the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects were evidently observed from the serum biochemical indexes and liver pathological examination in type II diabetic mice. In addition, there were total of 20 major components including eight lysophosphatidylcholines (Lyso-PCs), five fatty acids, and seven novel theophylline derivatives tentatively identified in the active fraction from water extract. Therefore, these components were assumed to contribute partly to the hypoglycemic effect of Fuzhuan Brick-Tea. These findings also give the evidence that the Lyso-PCs, fatty acids, and novel theophylline derivatives in Fuzhuan Brick-Tea may provide benefits in ameliorating disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study suggests that the Lyso-PCs, fatty acids, and novel theophylline derivatives in Fuzhuan Brick-Tea may provide benefits in ameliorating disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism. It can be taken as a beneficial diet additive or nutraceutical.

Lysophospholipid profiles of apolipoprotein E-deficient mice reveal potential lipid biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis progression using validated UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS-based lipidomics approach

Lysophospholipids (Lyso-PLs) are lipid-derived signaling molecules which were demonstrated to have a strong correlation with the progression of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the influence of high-fat diet on Lyso-PL profiles of atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice and wild type C57BL/6 J mice to find out the potential biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis. Firstly, the quantitative profiling method for Lyso-PLs based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS) was established and validated. Secondly, this method was utilized to quantify 169 targeted Lyso-PLs in plasma samples of ApoE^-/- mice and wild type C57BL/6 J mice collected at different time points. Finally, 12 of 37 differential Lyso-PLs were identified as more reliable biomarkers by integrating static metabolomics and time-dependent analyses, among which Lyso-PC/15:0, 18:1/Lyso-PI, 22:5/Lyso-PI and 22:4/Lyso-PI were highly correlated with TCand LDL-C levels. Meanwhile, we found that the Lyso-PL profiles of ApoE^-/- mice and C57BL/6 J mice were distinguished by altered metabolism of different Lyso-PLs classes, while C57BL/6 J mice fed with high-fat diet and normal diet were discriminated by the content differences of Lyso-PLs with same fatty acid composition. In conclusion, these results provided detailed changes of Lyso-PL profiles associated with atherosclerosis and the differential Lyso-PLs with reasonable change trends may serve as promising biomarkers for atherosclerosis progression.

Feces and liver tissue metabonomics studies on the regulatory effect of aspirin eugenol eater in hyperlipidemic rats

Background

Based on the pro-drug principle, aspirin and eugenol were esterified to synthesize aspirin eugenol ester (AEE). The anti-hyperlipidemia effect of aspirin eugenol ester has been confirmed in hyperlipidemic rat induced by high fat diet (HFD). However, its effect on liver and feces metabonomic profiles remains unknown.

Methods

Suspension of AEE was prepared in 5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na). Thirty rats were divided into control, model and AEE groups. The control and model rats were fed with normal diet or HFD for 13 weeks, respectively. Rats in AEE-treated group were fed with HFD for 8 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia, and then given AEE once daily by oral gavage for 5 weeks at the dosage of 54 mg/kg body weight. After drug intervention, lipid profile analysis and oil red O staining were carried out to confirm the lipid accumulation in liver tissue. UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based liver and feces metabonomics coupled with pathway analysis were conducted to evaluate the changes of metabolic profile and endogenous metabolites.

Results

In liver tissue, oral administration of AEE significantly reduced lipid droplets and the levels of triglyceride (TG) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminate analysis (PLS-DA), distinct changes in metabolite patterns in feces and liver were observed. Liver and feces samples in control, model and AEE groups were scattered in PLS-DA score plots. 28 metabolites in liver and 22 in feces were identified as potential biomarkers related to hyperlipidemia. As possible drug targets, the perturbations of those biomarkers can be regulated by administration of AEE.

Conclusion

Anti-hyperlipidemia effect of AEE was confirmed by lipid analysis, oil red O staining and metabolomics analysis. The mechanism of AEE might be associated with the changes in the metabolism of glycerophospholipid, amino acid, fatty acid, sphingolipid, purine, bile acid and glutathione.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12944-017-0633-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

UPLC-Q-TOF/MS-based urine and plasma metabonomics study on the ameliorative effects of aspirin eugenol ester in hyperlipidemia rats

The main objective of this study was to investigate the ameliorative effects of aspirin eugenol ester (AEE) in hyperlipidemic rat. After five-week oral administration of AEE in high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats, the impact of AEE on plasma and urine metabonomics was investigated to explore the underlying mechanism by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis. Blood lipid levels and histopathological changes of liver, stomach and duodenum were also evaluated after AEE treatment. Without obvious gastrointestinal (GI) side effects, AEE significantly relieved fatty degeneration of liver and reduced triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and total cholesterol (TCH) (P<0.01). Clear separations of metabolic profiles were observed among control, model and AEE groups by using principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least-squares-discriminate analysis (OPLS-DA). 16 endogenous metabolites in plasma and 18 endogenous metabolites in urine involved in glycerophospholipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, fatty acid beta-oxidation, amino acid metabolism, TCA cycle, sphingolipid metabolism, gut microflora and pyrimidine metabolism were considered as potential biomarkers of hyperlipidemia and be regulated by AEE administration. It might be concluded that AEE was a promising drug candidate for hyperlipidemia treatment. These findings could contribute to the understanding of action mechanisms of AEE and provide evidence for further studies.

The metabolic change of serum lysophosphatidylcholines involved in the lipid lowering effect of triterpenes from Alismatis rhizoma on high-fat diet induced hyperlipidemia mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Alismatis rhizoma (AR), a Traditional Chinese Medicine with lipid-regulating properties, is usually used to treat hyperlipidemia. Lysophosphatidylcholines (Lyso PCs) play a crucial role in lipid metabolism disorders. In this study, the triterpene fraction purified from boiling water extract of AR was evaluated for its lipid lowering activity using mice with high-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia. The metabolic changes of individual Lyso PCs treated with the triterpene fraction were detected by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer (UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HFD induced hyperlipidemia mice were administrated with triterpene and non-triterpene fractions at doses of 180, 360 and 720 mg/kg body weight/day for 4 weeks, respectively. Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and atherogenic Index (AI) in mice serum were measured. The chemical components in the lipid-lowering fraction were characterized by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS). The changes of Lyso PC in the serum of mice treated with the lipid-lowering fraction were quantified by UHPLC-QTRAP-MS/MS.

RESULTS

A total of 18 alisol derivatives were identified in the triterpene fraction. The hyperlipidemia mice treated with the triterpene fraction showed a significant decrease in serum TC, LDL-C and AI after continuous consumption of HFD for 4 weeks. The results also showed that 27 serum Lyso PCs in mice fed with HFD were down-regulated, and 19 were up-regulated. The abnormal serum level of Lyso PCs associated with hyperlipidemia was intervened by the alisol derivatives, with increase of unsaturated Lyso PCs and decrease of saturated ones.

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrated for the first time that triterpenes from the AR extract can lower serum lipid level in HFD induced hyperlipidemia mice. These metabolism changes of Lyso PCs could further improve our understanding of the potential mechanism of lipid lowering effect of AR.