Amelioration of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by swertiamarin in fructose-fed mice

Bioprotective Role of Phytocompounds Against the Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: Unravelling Underlying Molecular Mechanisms

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with a global prevalence of 25%, continues to escalate, creating noteworthy concerns towards the global health burden. NAFLD causes triglycerides and free fatty acids to build up in the liver. The excessive fat build-up causes inflammation and damages the healthy hepatocytes, leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Dietary habits, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia influence NAFLD progression. The disease burden is complicated due to the paucity of therapeutic interventions. Obeticholic acid is the only approved therapeutic agent for NAFLD. With more scientific enterprise being directed towards the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of NAFLD, novel targets like lipid synthase, farnesoid X receptor signalling, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors associated with inflammatory signalling, and hepatocellular injury have played a crucial role in the progression of NAFLD to NASH. Phytocompounds have shown promising results in modulating hepatic lipid metabolism and de novo lipogenesis, suggesting their possible role in managing NAFLD. This review discusses the ameliorative role of different classes of phytochemicals with molecular mechanisms in different cell lines and established animal models. These compounds may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for NAFLD progression to NASH. This review also deliberates on phytomolecules undergoing clinical trials for effective management of NAFLD.

Multi-omics analysis and the remedial effects of Swertiamarin on hepatic injuries caused by CCl4

Hepatic diseases pose a significant threat to community health, impacting the quality of life and longevity of millions worldwide. Despite revolutionary advancements in treatment, liver diseases remain a pressing issue, necessitating the development of more effective therapeutic approaches. Here, we conducted a comprehensive multi-omics analysis to investigate the underlying mechanism of Swertiamarin in alleviating hepatic injuries induced by CCl4 in mice. We divided 100 Kunming mice into five groups: RC (control), RM (CCl4), RD (15 mg/Kg Swertiamarin), RZ (30 mg/Kg Swertiamarin), and RG (60 mg/Kg Swertiamarin). Animals in groups RD, RZ, and RG received daily Swertiamarin via gavage, while those in groups RM, RD, RZ, and RG were treated with CCl4 solution intraperitoneally every four days, nine times in total. Our findings revealed that mice in the RM group exhibited slightly lower average weights compared to other groups, along with significantly higher liver weight (p<0.0001) and liver index (p<0.0001). Pathological analysis indicated liver damage characterized by cell degeneration, inflammatory cell infiltration, and hepatic fibrosis in the CCl4-induced group. In contrast, Swertiamarin supplementation mitigated these effects, reducing denatured cells, inflammatory cells, and collagenous fibers in the liver. Serum analysis showed elevated levels of TNF-α (p<0.001), IL-6 (p<0.05), ALT (p<0.001), AST (p<0.0001), MDA (p<0.001), and Hyp (p<0.001) in CCl4-induced animals, along with lower levels of T-AOC (p<0.001), GSH-px (p<0.0001), SOD (p<0.001), and CAT (p<0.01). Microbiome analysis revealed significant differences among groups, with pathogenic taxa such as Arthrinium and Aureobasidium, and probiotic Saccharomyces showing notable variations. Metabolomics analysis identified numerous differentially abundant metabolites, with Swertiamarin-treated animals exhibiting distinct profiles. Our findings highlight the potential of Swertiamarin ameliorating CCl4-induced liver toxicity through modulation of antioxidant capacity, inflammatory response, gut microbiota, and metabolites. These insights may inform the development of novel therapies for liver injury.

Curative role of natural PPARγ agonist in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

NAFLD is a condition that develops when the liver accumulates excess fat without alcohol consumption. This chronic liver ailment progresses along with insulin resistant and is typically not diagnosed until the patients have cirrhosis. Nuclear hormone receptor superfamily PPARs are essential for metabolism of fatty acids and glucose. In liver, lipid metabolism is regulated by nuclear receptors and PPARα, and PPARβ/δ encourages fatty acid β-oxidation. PPAR-γ, an energy-balanced receptor is a crucial regulator in NAFLD. The partial activation of PPAR-γ could lead to increased level of adiponectin and insulin sensitivity, thus improved NAFLD. Because of less side effects, natural compounds are emerged as potential therapeutic agents for NAFLD by PPARγ agonists. Although the results from preclinical studies are promising, further research is needed to determine the potential dosing and efficacy of mentioned compounds in human subjects. In this review, we summarize the effect of natural PPARγ agonist in the NAFLD.

Chinese herbal medicines: The modulator of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease targeting oxidative stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants are a natural treasure trove; their secondary metabolites participate in several pharmacological processes, making them a crucial component in the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals and serving as a reserve resource foundation in this process. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the risk of progression to hepatitis and liver cancer. The "Treatise on Febrile Diseases," "Compendium of Materia Medica," and "Thousand Golden Prescriptions" have listed herbal remedies to treat liver diseases.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

Chinese herbal medicines have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD owing to their efficacy and low side effects. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during NAFLD, and the impact and potential mechanism of ROS on the pathogenesis of NAFLD are discussed in this review. Furthermore, common foods and herbs that can be used to prevent NAFLD, as well as the structure-activity relationships and potential mechanisms, are discussed.

METHODS

Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI database, Google Scholar, and WanFang database were searched for natural products that have been used to treat or prevent NAFLD in the past five years. The primary search was performed using the following keywords in different combinations in full articles: NAFLD, herb, natural products, medicine, and ROS. More than 400 research papers and review articles were found and analyzed in this review.

RESULTS

By classifying and discussing the literature, we obtained 86 herbaceous plants, 28 of which were derived from food and 58 from Chinese herbal medicines. The mechanism of NAFLD was proposed through experimental studies on thirteen natural compounds (quercetin, hesperidin, rutin, curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, salvianolic acid B, paeoniflorin, ginsenoside Rg1, ursolic acid, berberine, honokiol, emodin). The occurrence and progression of NAFLD could be prevented by natural antioxidants through several pathways to prevent ROS accumulation and reduce hepatic cell injuries caused by excessive ROS.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the natural products and routinely used herbs (prescription) in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Firstly, the mechanisms by which natural products improve NAFLD through antioxidant pathways are elucidated. Secondly, the potential of traditional Chinese medicine theory in improving NAFLD is discussed, highlighting the safety of food-medicine homology and the broader clinical potential of multi-component formulations in improving NAFLD. Aiming to provide theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Preventive mechanisms of Chinese Tibetan medicine Triphala against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

BACKGROUND

Triphala (TLP), as a Chinese Tibetan medicine composing of Emblica officinalis, Terminalia chebula and Terminalia bellirica (1.2:1.5:1), exhibited hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic and gut microbiota modulatory effects. Nonetheless, its roles in prevention of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the related mechanistic insights involving the interplay of gut microbiota and hepatic inflammation are not known.

PURPOSE

The present study seeks to determine if TLP would prevent HFD-induced NAFLD in vivo and its underlying mechanisms from the perspectives of gut microbiota, metabolites, and hepatic inflammation.

METHODS

TLP was subjected to extraction and chemo-profiling, and in vivo evaluation in HFD-fed rats on hepatic lipid and inflammation, intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and permeability, and body weight and fat content profiles.

RESULTS

The TLP was primarily constituted of gallic acid, corilagin and chebulagic acid. Orally administered HFD-fed rats with TLP were characterized by the growth of Ligilactobacillus and Akkermansia, and SCFAs (acetic/propionic/butyric acid) secretion which led to increased claudin-1 and zonula occludens-1 expression that reduced the mucosal permeability to migration of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) into blood and liver. Coupling with hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride lowering actions, the TLP mitigated both inflammatory (ALT, AST, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α) and pro-inflammatory (TLR4, MYD88 and NF-κB P65) activities of liver, and sequel to histopathological development of NAFLD in a dose-dependent fashion.

CONCLUSION

TLP is promisingly an effective therapy to prevent NAFLD through modulating gut microbiota, mucosal permeability and SCFAs secretion with liver fat and inflammatory responses.

Mechanism of Action and Related Natural Regulators of Nrf2 in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

With the acceleration of people's pace of life, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease in the world, which greatly threatens people's health and safety. Therefore, there is still an urgent need for higher-quality research and treatment in this area. Nuclear factor Red-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), as a key transcription factor in the regulation of oxidative stress, plays an important role in inducing the body's antioxidant response. Although there are no approved drugs targeting Nrf2 to treat NAFLD so far, it is still of great significance to target Nrf2 to alleviate NAFLD. In recent years, studies have reported that many natural products treat NAFLD by acting on Nrf2 or Nrf2 pathways. This article reviews the role of Nrf2 in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and summarizes the currently reported natural products targeting Nrf2 or Nrf2 pathway for the treatment of NAFLD, which provides new ideas for the development of new NAFLD-related drugs.

Didymin alleviates metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) via the stimulation of Sirt1-mediated lipophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis

BACKGROUND

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is one of the most prevalent metabolic syndromes worldwide. However, no approved pharmacological treatments are available for MAFLD. Chenpi, one kind of dried peel of citrus fruits, has traditionally been utilized as a medicinal herb for liver diseases. Didymin is a newly identified oral bioactive dietary flavonoid glycoside derived from Chenpi. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of Didymin as an anti-MAFLD drug and elucidated its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced MAFLD mice and alpha mouse liver 12 (AML12) cells were utilized to evaluate the effects and mechanisms of Didymin in the treatment of MAFLD. Liver weight, serum biochemical parameters, and liver morphology were examined to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of Didymin in MAFLD treatment. RNA-seq analysis was performed to identify potential pathways that could be affected by Didymin. The impact of Didymin on Sirt1 was corroborated through western blot, molecular docking analysis, microscale thermophoresis (MST), and deacetylase activity assay. Then, a Sirt1 inhibitor (EX-527) was utilized to confirm that Didymin alleviates MAFLD via Sirt1. Western blot and additional assays were used to investigate the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

Our results suggested that Didymin may possess therapeutic potential against MAFLD in vitro and in vivo. By promoting Sirt1 expression as well as directly binding to and activating Sirt1, Didymin triggers downstream pathways that enhance mitochondrial biogenesis and function while reducing apoptosis and enhancing lipophagy.

CONCLUSIONS

These suggest that Didymin could be a promising medication for MAFLD treatment. Furthermore, its therapeutic effects are mediated by Sirt1.

A Study of Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma Class Differences Based on Chemical Composition and Core Efficacy

(1) Background: Establishment of a method for evaluating Gentianae Radix et Rhizoma (GRR) classes based on chemical composition and core efficacy; (2) Methods: Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to determine the chemical constituents of GRR-first class (GF) and GRR-second class (GS). The cell viability, liver function, oxidative stress enzyme activity, and inflammatory factor levels of GF and GS on H2O2-induced HepG2 cells were determined with CCK-8, ELISA, and biochemical methods, and the antioxidant activity of the two was evaluated using bioefficacy; ELISA, biochemical methods, real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method, and Western blot (WB) were used to determine the liver function, oxidative stress enzyme activity, inflammatory factor levels, and expression of related genes and proteins in mice with acute liver injury (ALI) model induced with 0.3% CCl4 olive oil solution after gavage administration; (3) Results: GF and GS had the same types of components, but the cyclic enol ether terpenes such as morinlon goside c, loganin, gentiopicroside, and swertiamarin differed significantly between the two; the effect of GF on CCl4-induced acute hepatic injury in C57BL/6 mice was stronger compared to GS. It helped alleviate weight loss, increase hepatic and splenic indices, improve hepatic lobular structure and hepatocyte status, inhibit collagen deposition, enhance oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory-related genes and protein expression, and decrease apoptotic genes and proteins more significantly than GS; (4) Conclusions: In this study, we established a GRR class evaluation method combining chemical composition and core medicinal effects, which can rapidly determine the differential composition of GF and GS, detect the quality of GRR through antioxidant bioefficacy, and validate it with in vivo experiments, which provides references for the evaluation of the class of GRR and the rational use of medication in the clinic.

Swertia bimaculata moderated liver damage in mice by regulating intestine microbiota

Swertia bimaculata (SB) is a medicinal herb in China having an array of therapeutic and biological properties. This study aimed to explore the attenuating effect of SB on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepato-toxicity by regulation of gut microbiome in ICR mice. For this purpose, CCl4 was injected intraperitoneally in different mice groups (B, C, D and E) every 4th day for a period of 47 days. Additionally, C, D, and E groups received a daily dose (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200 mg/kg respectively) of Ether extract of SB via gavage for the whole study period. The results of serum biochemistry analysis, ELISA, H&E staining, and sequencing of the gut microbiome, indicated that SB significantly alleviates the CCl4-induced liver damage and hepatocyte degeneration. The serum levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, malondialdehyde, interleukin 1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were significantly lower in SB treated groups compared to control while levels of glutathione peroxidase were raised. Also, the sequencing data indicate that supplementation with SB could restore the microbiome and its function in CCl4-induced variations in intestinal microbiome of mice by significantly downregulating the abundances of pathogenic intestinal bacteria species including Bacteroides, Enterococcus, Eubacterium, Bifidobacterium while upregulating the levels of beneficial bacteria like Christensenella in the gut. In conclusion, we revealed that SB depicts a beneficial effect against hepatotoxicity induced by CCl4 in mice through the remission of hepatic inflammation and injury, through regulation of oxidative stress, and by restoring gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Luteolin induces apoptosis by impairing mitochondrial function and targeting the intrinsic apoptosis pathway in gastric cancer cells

Gastric cancer is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Research has focused on exploring natural medicines to improve the systematic chemotherapy for gastric cancer. Luteolin, a natural flavonoid, possesses anticancer activities. Nevertheless, the mechanism of the anticancer effects of luteolin is still not clear. The present study aimed to verify the inhibitory effect of luteolin on gastric cancer HGC-27, MFC and MKN-45 cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. A Cell Counting Kit-8 cell viability assay, flow cytometry, western blot, an ATP content assay and an enzyme activity testing assay were used. Luteolin inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer HGC-27, MFC and MKN-45 cells. Further, it impaired mitochondrial integrity and function by destroying the mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulating the activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes (mainly complexes I, III and V), and unbalancing the expression of B cell lymphoma-2 family member proteins, eventually leading to apoptosis of gastric cancer HGC-27, MFC and MKN-45 cells. The intrinsic apoptosis pathway was involved in luteolin's anti-gastric cancer effects. Furthermore, mitochondria were the main target in luteolin-induced gastric cancer apoptosis. The present study may provide a theoretical basis for the research on the effect of luteolin on the mitochondrial metabolism in cancer cells, and pave the way for its practical application in the future.

Swertia cincta Burkill alleviates LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver failure by modulating apoptosis and oxidative stress signaling pathways

Swertia cincta Burkill is widely distributed along the southwestern region of China. It is known as "Dida" in Tibetan and "Qingyedan" in Chinese medicine. It was used in folk medicine to treat hepatitis and other liver diseases. To understand how Swertia cincta Burkill extract (ESC) protects against acute liver failure (ALF), firstly, the active ingredients of ESC were identified using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and further screening. Next, network pharmacology analyses were performed to identify the core targets of ESC against ALF and further determine the potential mechanisms. Finally, in vivo experiments as well as in vitro experiments were conducted for further validation. The results revealed that 72 potential targets of ESC were identified using target prediction. The core targets were ALB, ERBB2, AKT1, MMP9, EGFR, PTPRC, MTOR, ESR1, VEGFA, and HIF1A. Next, KEGG pathway analysis showed that EGFR and PI3K-AKT signaling pathways could have been involved in ESC against ALF. ESC exhibits hepatic protective functions via anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic effects. Therefore, the EGFR-ERK, PI3K-AKT, and NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathways could participate in the therapeutic effects of ESC on ALF.

Recombinant human metallothionein-III alleviates oxidative damage induced by copper and cadmium in Caenorhabditis elegans

Recombinant human metallothionein III (rh-MT-III) is a genetically engineered product produced by Escherichia coli fermentation technology. Its molecules contain abundant reducing sulfhydryl groups, which possess the ability to bind heavy metal ions. The present study was to evaluate the binding effects of rh-MT-III against copper and cadmium in vitro and to investigate the antioxidant activity of rh-MT-III using Caenorhabditis elegans in vivo. For in vitro experiments, the binding rates of copper and cadmium were 91.4% and 97.3% for rh-MT-III at a dosage of 200 μg/mL at 10 h, respectively. For in vivo assays, the oxidative stress induced by copper (CuSO₄ , 10 μg/mL) and cadmium (CdCl₂ , 10 μg/mL) was significantly reduced after 72 h of exposure to different doses of rh-MT-III (5-500 μg/mL), indicated by restoring locomotion behavior and growth, and reducing malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species levels in C. elegans. Moreover, rh-MT-III decreased the deposition of lipofuscin and fat content, which could delay the progression of aging. In addition, rh-MT-III (500 μg/mL) promoted the up-regulation of Mtl-1 and Mtl-2 gene expression in C. elegans, which could enhance the resistance to oxidative stress by increasing the enzymatic activity of antioxidant defense system and scavenging free radicals. The results indicated that supplemental rh-MT-III could effectively protect C. elegans from heavy metal stress, providing an experimental basis for the future application and development of rh-MT-III.

FAM3A maintains metabolic homeostasis by interacting with F1-ATP synthase to regulate the activity and assembly of ATP synthase

Reduced mitochondrial ATP synthase (ATPS) capacity plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. However, there is currently no effective strategy for synchronously stimulating the expressions of ATPS key subunits to restore its assembly. This study determined the roles of mitochondrial protein FAM3A in regulating the activity and assembly of ATPS in hepatocytes. FAM3A is localized in mitochondrial matrix, where it interacts with F1-ATPS to initially activate ATP synthesis and release, and released ATP further activates P2 receptor-Akt-CREB pathway to induce FOXD3 expression. FOXD3 synchronously stimulates the transcriptions of ATPS key subunits and assembly genes to increase its assembly and capacity, augmenting ATP synthesis and inhibiting ROS production. FAM3A, FOXD3 and ATPS expressions were reduced in livers of diabetic mice and NAFLD patients. FOXD3 expression, ATPS capacity and ATP content were reduced in various tissues of FAM3A-deficient mice with dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism. Hepatic FOXD3 activation increased ATPS assembly to ameliorate dysregulated glucose and lipid metabolism in obese mice. Hepatic FOXD3 inhibition or knockout reduced ATPS capacity to aggravate HFD-induced hyperglycemia and steatosis. In conclusion, FAM3A is an active ATPS component, and regulates its activity and assembly by activating FOXD3. Activating FAM3A-FOXD3 axis represents a viable strategy for restoring ATPS assembly to treat metabolic disorders.

Plants-based medicine implication in the evolution of chronic liver diseases

Hepatic disorders are considered major health problems, due to their high incidence, increased risk of chronicling or death and the costs involved in therapies. A large number of patients with chronic liver diseases use herbal medicines and dietary supplements in parallel with allopathic treatment. The current review provides a thorough analysis of the studies conducted on the most important species of medicinal plants used in this disease, bioactive compounds and on the activity of herbal medicines in the evolution of chronic liver diseases. However, a negative aspect is that there is frequently a lack of comprehensive data on the progression of the illness and the living standards of patients who are affected when evaluating the effects of these phytocomponents on the evolution of chronic liver disease, the patients' health, and their quality of life. It is essential to take this impairment into account when evaluating the long-term effects of herbal treatments on the health of individuals who suffer from liver illness. Bioactive phytocomponents may be a suitable source for the development of novel medications due to the correlation between traditional uses and medical advances. Additional high-quality preclinical examinations utilizing cutting-edge approaches are needed to assess safety and effectiveness and to detect, categorize, and standardize the active substances and their formulations for the most suitable therapeutic management of liver illnesses.

β-Hydroxyphosphocarnitine modifies fibrosis, steatosis and improves liver function in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis induced in rats

BACKGROUND

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation, steatosis, and liver fibrosis. The liver is particularly affected by alterations in lipid metabolism. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of β-hydroxyphosphocarnitine (β-HPC) on NASH induced in rats.

METHODS

NASH was produced via the ad libitum daily chronic administration of a fructose solution (400 kcal) for 9 weeks, an oral dose of fat solution (16 kcal) for 7 weeks and a subcutaneous injection of CCl₄ (30%) two times a week for 2 weeks to Wistar rats. To evaluate the effect of β-HPC, a dose of 100 mg/kg was administered perorally for 4 weeks and its biochemical and hepatic effects on rats with NASH were analyzed. Serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and liver enzymes were quantified. Histological changes were evaluated on slices stained with H&E, trichromic and PAS. Glycogen content was measured in liver samples. α-SMA and SREBP-1 immunopositive cells were identified in liver tissue.

RESULTS

NASH was characterized by elevated triglycerides, elevated liver damage enzymes, and the presence of necrosis, inflammation, steatosis, and fibrosis. Significant amounts of glycogen were found, along with α-SMA positive cells in fibrosis areas. The over-expression of SREBP-1 in cytoplasm and nuclei was evident. Animals with NASH treated with β-HPC showed a significant reduction in inflammation, necrosis, and glycogen content in the liver. A reduction in α-SMA and SREBP-1 immunopositive cells correlated with a significant reduction in the degree of fibrosis and steatosis found in liver tissue. β-HPC reduced the levels of ALP and GGT, and significantly reduced triglyceride levels. Animals treated with β-HPC did not show any alterations in liver enzyme function.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research shows that β-HPC can improve liver function and morphology in the case of NASH induced in rats, suggesting β-HPC could be potentially used in the treatment of NASH.

Downregulation of hepatic fat accumulation, inflammation and fibrosis by nerolidol in purpose built western-diet-induced multiple-hit pathogenesis of NASH animal model

Western diet style (fast food), which includes fatty frozen junk food, lard, processed meats, whole-fat dairy foods, cream, mayonnaise, butter, snacks, and fructose, is a primary etiological determinant for developing nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) worldwide. Here the primary focus is to see the impact of naturally identified essential oil on disease mechanisms developed in an animal model using the same ingredients. Currently, symptomatic therapies are recommended for the management of NASH due to non-availability of specific treatments. Therefore, the present study was designed to evaluate the potential anti-NASH effect of nerolidol in a rat model fed with a purpose-built diet. The diet substantially induced insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis, dyslipidemia, and elevation of liver enzymes in the experimental animals. The levels of liver oxidative stress markers, nitrites (NO₂^-), serum pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) and hepatic collagen were increased in disease control rats. Nerolidol oral treatment in ascending dose order of 250 and 500 mg/kg substantially reduced the steatosis (macrovesicular and microvesicular), degeneration of hepatocytes, and inflammatory cells infiltration. The amounts of circulatory TNF-α and tissue collagen were also reduced at 500 mg/kg dose of nerolidol, expressing its anti-fibrotic effect. The current study described the multiple-hit pathophysiology of NASH as enhanced steatosis, pro-inflammatory markers, and oxidative stress in rats, which resulted in the development of vicious insulin resistance. Nerolidol treatment significantly reduced hepatic lipid accumulation and halted disease progression induced by a hypercaloric diet.

Coumarin Derivatives Containing Sulfonamide and Dithioacetal Moieties: Design, Synthesis, Antiviral Activity, and Mechanism

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is currently a known plant virus with the most hosts, broadest distribution, and economic hazard. To develop new antiviral drugs against this serious virus, a new range of coumarin derivatives containing sulfonamide and dithioacetal structures were designed and synthesized, and their anti-CMV activities were detected by the half-leaf dead spot method. The results of the biological activity assay showed that most of the compounds exhibited outstanding anti-CMV activity. Especially, compound C23 displayed the optimal in vivo anti-CMV activity, with an EC50 value of 128 μg/mL, which was remarkably better than that of COS (781 μg/mL) and ningnanmycin (436 μg/mL). Excitingly, we found that compound C23 could be a promising plant activator that significantly increased defense-related enzyme activities and the tobacco chlorophyll content. Furthermore, compound C23 enhanced defense responses against viral infection by inducing the abscisic acid (ABA) pathway in tobacco. This work established a basis for multifunction pesticide discovery involving mechanism of action study and structure optimization.

Protective Effect and Mechanism of Plant-Based Monoterpenoids in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases

The protective effect of plant active ingredients against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming increasingly prominent, and the terpenoids have always been the main active compounds in Chinese herbal medicine exerting hepatoprotective effects. However, the related pharmacological effects, especially for monoterpenoids or iridoid glycosides, which have obvious effects on improvement of NAFLD, have not been systematically analyzed. The objective of this review is to systematically examine the molecular mechanisms of monoterpenoids in NAFLD. The signaling pathways of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, insulin, nuclear factor κB, toll-like receptor, adipocytokine, RAC-α serine/threonine protein kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase, and autophagy have been proven to mediate this protective effect. We further compared the experimental data from animal models, including the dosage of these monoterpenoids in detail, and demonstrated that they are effective and safe candidate drugs for NAFLD. This review provides a reference for the development of NAFLD drugs as well as a research guideline for the potential uses of plant monoterpenoids.

Distinct impacts of fat and fructose on the liver, muscle, and adipose tissue metabolome: An integrated view

OBJECTIVE

In the last years, changes in dietary habits have contributed to the increasing prevalence of metabolic disorders, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The differential burden of lipids and fructose on distinct organs needs to be unveiled. Herein, we hypothesized that high-fat and high-fructose diets differentially affect the metabolome of insulin-sensitive organs such as the liver, muscle, and different adipose tissue depots.

METHODS

We have studied the impact of 12 weeks of a control (11.50% calories from fat, 26.93% from protein, and 61.57% from carbohydrates), high-fat/sucrose (HFat), or high-fructose (HFruct) feeding on C57Bl/6J male mice. Besides glucose homeostasis, we analyzed the hepatic levels of glucose and lipid-metabolism-related genes and the metabolome of the liver, the muscle, and white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT) depots.

RESULTS

HFat diet led to a more profound impact on hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism than HFruct, with mice presenting glucose intolerance, increased saturated fatty acids, and no glycogen pool, yet both HFat and HFruct presented hepatic insulin resistance. HFat diet promoted a decrease in glucose and lactate pools in the muscle and an increase in glutamate levels. While HFat had alterations in BAT metabolites that indicate increased thermogenesis, HFruct led to an increase in betaine, a protective metabolite against fructose-induced inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data illustrate that HFat and HFruct have a negative but distinct impact on the metabolome of the liver, muscle, WAT, and BAT.

Antioxidant Activity and the Potential Mechanism of the Fruit From Ailanthus altissima Swingle

The fruits of Ailanthus altissima Swingle (AS) possess a variety of pharmacological activities. Its antioxidant activity and the potential mode of action have not yet been investigated. In in vitro studies, AS revealed the strong reducing power and DPPH scavenging effect, but hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and ferrous ions-chelating ability were not strong. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress RAW264.7 cell injury model was established, the low and medium-doses of AS showed significant protective effects on the viability of H₂O₂-treated cells by CCK-8 method. Besides, three doses of AS all increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and decreased the MDA level compared with the H₂O₂ group, suggesting it significantly relieved oxidative stress of cells. The active ingredients and related targets of AS were collected by HERB and Swiss Target Prediction database, the common targets of drugs and diseases database were conducted by GeneCards database platform and the Venny platform. We screened the core targets of AS like threonine kinase1 (AKT1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (MTOR) by STRING database, and the key pathways involved PI3K-AKT and FoxO signaling pathway by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Besides, qRT-PCR revealed AS preconditioning significantly up-regulated the expression level of AKT1, SIRT1, MAPK1, and MTOR in model cells, and the effect was related to the regulation of FoxO and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In summary, AS showed significant antioxidant activity and its potential mechanism was regulating FoxO and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Swertiamarin supplementation prevents obesity-related chronic inflammation and insulin resistance in mice fed a high-fat diet

Obesity is characterized by low-grade chronic inflammation, which underlies insulin resistance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Swertiamarin is a secoiridoid glycoside that has been reported to ameliorate diabetes and NAFLD in animal models. However, the effects of swertiamarin on obesity-related inflammation and insulin resistance have not been fully elucidated. Thus, this study investigated the effects of swertiamarin on inflammation and insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed a HFD or HFD containing swertiamarin for 8 weeks. Obesity-induced insulin resistance and inflammation were assessed in the epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and livers of the mice. Swertiamarin attenuated HFD-induced weight gain, glucose intolerance, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance, and enhanced insulin signalling in mice. Compared to HFD-fed mice, the swertiamarin-treated mice exhibited increased lipolysis and reduced adipocyte hypertrophy and macrophage infiltration in eWAT. Moreover, swertiamarin alleviated HFD-mediated hepatic steatosis and inflammation by suppressing activation of the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathways within the eWAT and liver of obese mice. In conclusion, supplementation with swertiamarin attenuated weight gain and hepatic steatosis, and alleviated obesity-associated inflammation and insulin resistance, in obese mice.

CTRP3 ameliorates fructose-induced metabolic associated fatty liver disease via inhibition of xanthine oxidase-associated oxidative stress

OBJECTIVES

The incidence of metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) induced by high fructose consumption is dramatically increasing in the world while lacking specifically therapeutic drugs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of complement C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein-3 (CTRP3) on fructose-induced MAFLD and its potential mechanisms.

METHOD

The animal models with MAFLD were built with Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats drinking 10 % fructose solution for 12 weeks. Then, specific hepatic CTRP3 overexpression was conducted by a single caudal-vein injection of CTRP3-expressing adenoviruses. Rats were sacrificed two weeks later.

RESULTS

Drinking 10 % fructose solution for 12 weeks successfully built the rats models with MAFLD. Fructose feeding markedly decreased hepatic CTRP3 expression in rats. However, CTRP3 overexpression in liver alleviated hyperuricemia, dyslipidemia, liver function injury, intrahepatic triglyceride (TG) accumulation and histological changes of hepatic steatosis in rats fed with fructose. CTRP3 overexpression also inhibited hepatic XO activity in liver and improved subsequent oxidative stress, accompanied with downregulation of gene expression of sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1c (SERBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS).

CONCLUSION

CTRP3 attenuates MAFLD induced by fructose, which maybe partially attribute to rescued oxidative stress related with xanthine oxidase overactivity.

The biological regulatory activities of Flammulina velutipes polysaccharide in mice intestinal microbiota, immune repertoire and heart transcriptome

The effects of a novel Flammulina velutipes polysaccharide (FVP) on intestinal microbiota, immune repertoire and heart transcriptome were investigated in this study. The results showed that FVP treatment could effectively regulate the abundance of colonic microbiota. And FVP exhibited obvious immunoregulatory effect by influencing V gene and J gene fragments usage on TCRα chain. The usage frequency of TRBV1, TRBJ1-6 and TRBJ1-5 were significantly altered, and 41 V-J pairs were identified with obvious difference after FVP treatment. Furthermore, the mRNA of mice heart was analyzed by transcriptome assay. Total 525 genes and 1587 mRNA were significantly changed after FVP treatment. KEGG annotation indicated that the up-regulated mRNA was enriched in 17 pathways including adherens junction, mTOR signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, mitophagy, tight junction, PPAR signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway, etc. Meanwhile, the down-regulated mRNA was gathered in AMPK signaling pathway, metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, apelin signaling pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, insulin signaling pathway, cardiac muscle contraction, adrenergic signaling in cardiomyocytes, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, etc. The great potential exhibited by FVP could make it an ideal candidate as complementary medicine or functional food for promotion of health.

Chemistry, Pharmacology and Therapeutic Potential of Swertiamarin - A Promising Natural Lead for New Drug Discovery and Development

Swertiamarin, a seco-iridoid glycoside, is mainly found in Enicostemma littorale Blume (E. littorale) and exhibits therapeutic activities for various diseases. The present study aimed to provide a review of swertiamarin in terms of its phytochemistry, physicochemical properties, biosynthesis, pharmacology and therapeutic potential. Relevant literature was collected from several scientific databases, including PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar, between 1990 and the present. This review included the distribution of swertiamarin in medicinal plants and its isolation, characterization, physicochemical properties and possible biosynthetic pathways. A comprehensive summary of the pharmacological activities, therapeutic potential and metabolic pathways of swertiamarin was also included after careful screening and tabulation. Based on the reported evidence, swertiamarin meets all five of Lipinski’s rules for drug-like properties. Thereafter, the physicochemical properties of swertiamarin were detailed and analyzed. A simple and rapid method for isolating swertiamarin from E. littorale has been described. The present review proposed that swertiamarin may be biosynthesized by the mevalonate or nonmevalonate pathways, followed by the seco-iridoid pathway. It has also been found that swertiamarin is a potent compound with diverse pharmacological activities, including hepatoprotective, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritis, antidiabetic, antioxidant, neuroprotective and gastroprotective activities. The anticancer activity of swertiamarin against different cancer cell lines has been recently reported. The underlying mechanisms of all these pharmacological effects are diverse and seem to involve the regulation of different molecular targets, including growth factors, inflammatory cytokines, protein kinases, apoptosis-related proteins, receptors and enzymes. Swertiamarin also modulates the activity of several transcription factors, and their signaling pathways in various pathological conditions are also discussed. Moreover, we have highlighted the toxicity profile, pharmacokinetics and possible structural modifications of swertiamarin. The pharmacological activities and therapeutic potential of swertiamarin have been extensively investigated. However, more advanced studies are required including clinical trials and studies on the bioavailability, permeability and administration of safe doses to offer swertiamarin as a novel candidate for future drug development.

The Impact of Anthocyanins and Iridoids on Transcription Factors Crucial for Lipid and Cholesterol Homeostasis

Nutrition determines our health, both directly and indirectly. Consumed foods affect the functioning of individual organs as well as entire systems, e.g., the cardiovascular system. There are many different diets, but universal guidelines for proper nutrition are provided in the WHO healthy eating pyramid. According to the latest version, plant products should form the basis of our diet. Many groups of plant compounds with a beneficial effect on human health have been described. Such groups include anthocyanins and iridoids, for which it has been proven that their consumption may lead to, inter alia, antioxidant, cholesterol and lipid-lowering, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects. Transcription factors directly affect a number of parameters of cell functions and cellular metabolism. In the context of lipid and cholesterol metabolism, five particularly important transcription factors can be distinguished: liver X receptor (LXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPAR-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c). Both anthocyanins and iridoids may alter the expression of these transcription factors. The aim of this review is to collect and systematize knowledge about the impact of anthocyanins and iridoids on transcription factors crucial for lipid and cholesterol homeostasis.

Hesperetin ameliorates hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation via the PI3K/AKT-Nrf2-ARE pathway in oleic acid-induced HepG2 cells and a rat model of high-fat diet-induced NAFLD

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common liver disease. Dietary supplementation has become a promising strategy for managing NAFLD. Hesperetin, a citrus flavonoid, is mainly found in citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, and lemons) and possesses multiple pharmacological properties, including anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer and anti-diabetic effects. However, the anti-NAFLD effect and mechanisms of hesperetin remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of hesperetin against NAFLD and the underlying mechanism in vitro and in vivo. In oleic acid (OA)-induced HepG2 cells, hesperetin upregulated antioxidant levels (SOD/GPx/GR/GCLC/HO-1) by triggering the PI3 K/AKT-Nrf2 pathway, alleviating OA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and hepatotoxicity. Furthermore, hesperetin suppressed NF-κB activation and reduced inflammatory cytokine secretion (TNF-α and IL-6). More importantly, we revealed that this anti-inflammatory effect is attributed to reduced ROS overproduction by the Nrf2 pathway, as pre-treatment with Nrf2 siRNA or an inhibitor of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or/and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) abolished hesperetin-induced NF-κB inactivation and reductions in inflammatory cytokine secretion. In a rat model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD, we confirmed that hesperetin relieved hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, inflammatory cell infiltration and fibrosis. Moreover, hesperetin activated the PI3 K/AKT-Nrf2 pathway in the liver, increasing antioxidant expression and inhibiting NF-κB activation and inflammatory cytokine secretion. In summary, our results demonstrate that hesperetin ameliorates hepatic oxidative stress through the PI3 K/AKT-Nrf2 pathway and that this antioxidative effect further suppresses NF-κB-mediated inflammation during NAFLD progression. Thus, our study suggests that hesperetin may be an effective dietary supplement for improving NAFLD by suppressing hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation.

Ameliorative effects of Qingganjiuwei powder, a traditional Mongolian medicine, against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Qingganjiuwei powder (QGJWS) is a well-known traditional drug containing nine kinds of medicinal materials. This drug is commonly used in the Inner Mongolia region and exerts remarkable clinical effects on hepatic protection.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate whether QGJWS inhibits liver fibrosis in rats and to reveal its potential mechanisms.

METHODS

Liver fibrosis model was induced by CCl₄ for 8 weeks in SD rats. Next, rats were intragastrically administered quantum satis doses of QGJWS (0.525, 1.575, 4.725 g/kg per day) or Silymarin (SIL; 120 mg/kg per day) for 8 weeks. Afterwards, the rats were sacrificed, and serum aminotransferase (ALT and AST) levels, histopathological changes as well as the mRNA and protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), MMP9, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase1 (TIMP1), collagen type Ⅰ(COL1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), combined with phosphorylation levels of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), C-Jun amino-terminal kinases (JNKs) and stress-activated protein kinase-2 (p38) protein in liver tissues were measured in each groups, respectively.

RESULTS

The symptoms and signs of the model rats were consistent with the diagnostic criteria of liver fibrosis. By contrast, treatment with QGJWS clearly improved the general condition of rats. Also, the morphology and structure of liver can be ameliorated, there are fewer hepatocyte necrosis and lymphocytic infiltration and pseudolobuli in QGJWS treatment groups as demonstrated by histopathological analysis, thus helping bring about lower METAVIR scores. QGJWS administration also dramatically decreased serum ALT and AST levels. Further immunohistochemistry, western blotting and Real-Time PCR analysis revealed that QGJWS significantly enhanced the mRNA and protein expression of MMP2, MMP9, and downregulated the expression levels of COL1, TIMP1 and α-SMA. Furthermore, QGJWS reduced the activities of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway in liver by inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK, JNKs and p38 proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

QGJWS offers notable protection against CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in rats, which may be due to its ability to inhibited the MAPKs signaling pathway.

Comprehensive metabolism study of swertiamarin in rats using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Quadrupole-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry

Swertiamarin, a natural ingredient with potent pharmacological activities in the iridoid glycoside family, had been reported to have significant therapeutic effects on a variety of human diseases.In this study, a systematic and efficient strategy based on UHPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry was established to reveal the metabolic profile of swertiamarin in rat urine, plasma, and faeces.First of all, post-acquisition data-mining methods, including multiple mass defect filters (MMDFs) and high-resolution extracted ion chromatograms (HREICs), were developed to screen the metabolite candidates of swertiamarin from the complete mass scan data sets.Second, according to the diagnostic product ions (DPIs), neutral loss fragments (NLFs), chromatographic retention time, accurate mass measurement and calculated Clog P values, all metabolite candidates were rapidly identified.As a consequence, 49 metabolites altogether, including archetype compound, were preliminarily characterised. The corresponding in vivo biotransformation processes, such as dehydration, dehydrogenation, hydroxylation, hydrogenation, methylation, sulphonation, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) formation, N-heterocyclisation and their composite reactions, were all discovered in the study.In conclusion, our results not only detailedly elucidated many new metabolites and metabolic pathways of swertiamarin, but also provided a reference for further study of its pharmacological mechanism and evaluation of its safety.

Chemical Activators of the Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is paralleling the insulin resistance and obesity epidemic and is regarded as liver metabolic syndrome, and its prevalence rate is increasing rapidly. The best explanation for the occurrence and development of NAFLD is the “multiple hit” hypothesis instead of the “two-hit” hypothesis. At present, NAFLD therapies are limited. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway is a key pathway in oxidative stress. Its downstream proteins/enzymes are regulated. Metabolic enzymes and antioxidant proteins/enzymes play a vital role in cell defense protection and have attracted attention in the field of antioxidant research in recent years. This paper summarizes the regulatory mechanism of the Nrf2 signaling pathway and the research progress of Nrf2 activators in NAFLD to provide guidance for NAFLD therapy in the future.

Herbal Medicine in the Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases-Efficacy, Action Mechanism, and Clinical Application

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease with high prevalence in the developed countries. NAFLD has been considered as one of the leading causes of cryptogenic cirrhosis and chronic liver disease. The individuals with obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, and hypertension cardiovascular disease have a high risk to develop NAFLD. The related critical pathological events are associated with the development of NAFLD including insulin resistance, lipid metabolism dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis. The development of NAFLD range from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Hepatic steatosis is characterized by fat accumulation, which represents the early stage of NAFLD. Then, inflammation triggered by steatosis drives early NAFLD progression into NASH. Therefore, the amelioration of steatosis and inflammation is essential for NAFLD therapy. The herbal medicine have taken great effects on the improvement of steatosis and inflammation for treating NAFLD. It has been found out that these effects involved the multiple mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and inflammation. In this review, we pay particular attention on herbal medicine treatment and make summary about the research of herbal medicine, including herb formula, herb extract and naturals compound on NAFLD. We make details about their protective effects, the mechanism of action involved in the amelioration steatosis and inflammation for NAFLD therapy as well as the clinical application.

The Impacts of Herbal Medicines and Natural Products on Regulating the Hepatic Lipid Metabolism

The dysregulation of hepatic lipid metabolism is one of the hallmarks in many liver diseases including alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD). Hepatic inflammation, lipoperoxidative stress as well as the imbalance between lipid availability and lipid disposal, are direct causes of liver steatosis. The application of herbal medicines with anti-oxidative stress and lipid-balancing properties has been extensively attempted as pharmaceutical intervention for liver disorders in experimental and clinical studies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying their hepatoprotective effects warrant further exploration, increasing evidence demonstrated that many herbal medicines are involved in regulating lipid accumulation processes including hepatic lipolytic and lipogenic pathways, such as mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation, the secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), the non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) uptake, and some vital hepatic lipogenic enzymes. Therefore, in this review, the pathways or crucial mediators participated in the dysregulation of hepatic lipid metabolism are systematically summarized, followed by the current evidences and advances in the positive impacts of herbal medicines and natural products on the lipid metabolism pathways are detailed. Furthermore, several herbal formulas, herbs or herbal derivatives, such as Erchen Dection, Danshen, resveratrol, and berberine, which have been extensively studied for their promising potential in mediating lipid metabolism, are particularly highlighted in this review.

Beneficial effects of Chinese herbs in the treatment of fatty liver diseases

Eating habits and lifestyle directly impact general health. Consumption of fat- and sugar-rich foods and alcohol increase the risk of developing fatty liver disease. The prevalence of fatty liver disease is markedly critical, and its pathogenesis and progression are complicated. Chinese herbal medicine has been used to treat and prevent human diseases through-out history, and is a rich source of biologically active substances with unique curative properties. More recently, Chinese herbs and their extracts have been identified as a novel source of potential therapeutic agents in the prevention and treatment of fatty liver disease. Beneficial effects of these herbal medicines mean that they can be classified as novel candidates for the treatment and prevention of both alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), in place of conventional allopathic treatments. In this review, we explore the current literature related to herbal medicines used for the treatment of or protection against fatty liver diseases and describe their mechanisms of action.