LC-MS/MS Analysis and Hepatoprotective Activity of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) Leaves Extract against High Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Rats

A polyphenol-rich plant extract prevents hypercholesterolemia and modulates gut microbiota in western diet-fed mice

Introduction

Totum-070 is a combination of five plant extracts enriched in polyphenols to target hypercholesterolemia, one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Totum-070 on cholesterol levels in an animal model of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia.

Methods

C57BL/6JOlaHsd male mice were fed a Western diet and received Totum-070, or not, by daily gavage (1g/kg and 3g/kg body weight) for 6 weeks.

Results

The Western diet induced obesity, fat accumulation, hepatic steatosis and increased plasma cholesterol compared with the control group. All these metabolic perturbations were alleviated by Totum-070 supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. Lipid excretion in feces was higher in mice supplemented with Totum-070, suggesting inhibition of intestinal lipid absorption. Totum-070 also increased the fecal concentration of short chain fatty acids, demonstrating a direct effect on intestinal microbiota.

Discussion

The characterization of fecal microbiota by 16S amplicon sequencing showed that Totum-070 supplementation modulated the dysbiosis associated with metabolic disorders. Specifically, Totum-070 increased the relative abundance of Muribaculum (a beneficial bacterium) and reduced that of Lactococcus (a genus positively correlated with increased plasma cholesterol level). Together, these findings indicate that the cholesterol-lowering effect of Totum-070 bioactive molecules could be mediated through multiple actions on the intestine and gut microbiota.

Totum-070, a Polyphenol-Rich Plant Extract, Prevents Hypercholesterolemia in High-Fat Diet-Fed Hamsters by Inhibiting Intestinal Cholesterol Absorption

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide, and hypercholesterolemia is a central risk factor for atherosclerosis. This study evaluated the effects of Totum-070, a plant-based polyphenol-rich supplement, in hamsters with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced dyslipidemia. The molecular mechanisms of action were explored using human Caco2 enterocytes. Totum-070 supplementation reduced the total cholesterol (-41%), non-HDL cholesterol (-47%), and triglycerides (-46%) in a dose-dependent manner, compared with HFD. HFD-induced hepatic steatosis was also significantly decreased by Totum-070, an effect associated with the reduction in various lipid and inflammatory gene expression. Upon challenging with olive oil gavage, the post-prandial triglyceride levels were strongly reduced. The sterol excretion in the feces was increased in the HFD-Totum-070 groups compared with the HFD group and associated with reduction of intestinal cholesterol absorption. These effects were confirmed in the Caco2 cells, where incubation with Totum-070 inhibited cholesterol uptake and apolipoprotein B secretion. Furthermore, a microbiota composition analysis revealed a strong effect of Totum-070 on the alpha and beta diversity of bacterial species and a significant decrease in the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio. Altogether, our findings indicate that Totum-070 lowers hypercholesterolemia by reducing intestinal cholesterol absorption, suggesting that its use as dietary supplement may be explored as a new preventive strategy for cardiovascular diseases.

Elucidation of Natural Components of Gardenia thunbergia Thunb. Leaves: Effect of Methanol Extract and Rutin on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

The rising prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAFLD has strained the healthcare system. Natural products could solve this problem, so the current study focused on the impact of G. thunbergia Thunb. against this ailment. LC-ESI-MS/MS revealed the phytochemical profile of the methanol extract from Gardenia thunbergia leaves (GME). Forty-eight compounds were tentatively identified, and stigmasterol, fucosterol, ursolic acid, and rutin were isolated. The separation of the last three compounds from this plant had not before been achieved. The anti-NAFLD effect of the methanol extract of the leaves of G. thunbergia, and its major metabolite, rutin, was assessed in mice against high-fructose diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Male mice were allocated into nine groups: (1) saline (control), (2) 30% fructose (diseased group), (3) HFD, and 10 mg/kg of simvastatin. Groups 4-6 were administered HFD and rutin 50, 75, and 100 mg/kg. Groups (7-9) were administered HFD and methanol extract of leaves 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg. Methanol extract of G. thunbergia leaves at 200 mg/kg, and rutin at 75 mg/kg significantly reduced HFD-induced increments in mice weight and hepatic damage indicators (AST and ALT), steatosis, and hypertrophy. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides in the blood decreased. In addition, the expressions of CYP2E1, JNK1, and iNOS in the diseased mice were downregulated. This study found that GME and rutin could ameliorate NAFLD in HFD-fed mice, with results comparable to simvastatin, validating G. thunbergia's hepatoprotective effects.

Natural Foods for the Treatment of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide. The etiology of NAFLD is highly heterogeneous, which occurs and develops under the joint action of metabolism, inflammation, genetics, environment, and gut microbiota. At present, the principal therapeutic modalities targeting NAFLD are lifestyle interventions such as weight loss through diet and exercise. At present, there is no established therapy for the treatment of NAFLD, and many therapies are associated with a variety of side effects. A great number of in vitro and in vivo experiments have indicated that there are many natural foods that have therapeutic potential for NAFLD. This review summarizes the natural foods and their mechanisms that were found in recent years, furthermore, provides further information relevant to the treatment of NAFLD.

Mechanisms of Cynarine for treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on the integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking and cell experiment

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a chronic Liver Disease prevalent all over the world. It has become more and more common in Japan, China and most western developed countries. The global prevalence rate is 25.24%, and the trend is increasing year by year. Related studies have shown that Cynarine has certain liver protection, lipid lowering and immune intervention effects. So, this study to systematically predict and analyze the mechanism of Cynarine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) based on the integration of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and cell experiment.

METHODS

We performed Heatmap and Venn diagram analyses to identify genes and targets in Cynarine treat NAFLD. The network of Cynarine-therapeutic targets and the protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed. We used gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses to visualize associated functional pathways. The Sybyl tool was used to dock the Cynarine with key therapeutic targets molecularly. Finally, cell experiments were applied to validate the role of Cynarine in the treatment of NAFLD.

RESULTS

The Cynarine could act on 48 targets of NAFLD, and the role of CASP3, TP53, MMP9, ELANE, NOTCH1 were more important. The PPI network showed that immune and inflammation-related targets played a pivotal role. The KEGG analysis found that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cell cycle and MAPK signaling pathway may be the main pathways for Cynarine to prevent and treat NAFLD. Molecular docking studies confirmed that Cynarine has good binding activity with therapeutic targets. Cynarine reduced the fat deposition ability of NAFLD model cells, and effectively reduced the levels of ALT and AST released by liver cells due to excessive lipid accumulation. We also found that Cynarine inhibited the expression of AKT1 and MAPK1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed that Cynarine could significantly reduce the fat deposition ability of NAFLD model cells, which may be closely related to the effective regulation of AKT1 and MAPK1 expression by Cynarine.

Water extract from artichoke ameliorates high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in rats

BACKGROUND

The "multiple-hit" hypothesis is currently the most widely accepted theory for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the water extract of artichoke (WEA) on NAFLD and its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to induce NAFLD and then treated with WEA at three doses (0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 g/kg body weight, BW) for 8 weeks. At the end of the intervention, serum biochemical parameters, hepatic antioxidant capacity, hepatic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, liver histopathology, hepatic inflammatory gene and lipid metabolism gene expression, and Akt and p-Akt (S473) protein levels were determined.

RESULTS

The body weight, liver weight, liver triglyceride (TG) and serum levels of TG, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose, and insulin were all significantly reduced in the WEA-treated groups (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg BW) compared with the HFD group (P < 0.01). A significant decrease in hepatic content of malondialdehyde (P < 0.01) and glutathione (P < 0.01), as well as a significant increase in liver superoxide dismutase activity (P < 0.01) were observed in WEA-treated groups (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg BW) compared to the HFD group. In addition, there was a marked decrease in the hepatic levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the WEA-treated groups compared to the HFD group (P < 0.01). In line with these findings, the histopathology of the livers of rats treated with WEA (0.8 and 1.6 g/kg BW) showed a decrease in steatosis, ballooning, and lobular inflammation. Mechanistically, the reduced hepatic TG content might be related to the downregulation of lipogenic genes (SREBP1c, FASN, SCD1) and upregulation of lipolytic gene (PPARα), and the improved insulin signaling might be associated with the observed increase in antioxidant activity and reduction in inflammation in the WEA-treated groups.

CONCLUSION

The hepatoprotective role of WEA in NAFLD may be attributed to its anti-steatotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-insulin resistance effects.

Preventive effect of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) in kidney dysfunction against high fat-diet induced obesity in rats

A high-fat diet (HFD) promotes oxidative stress, which contributes to the development of kidney dysfunction. We examined the protective effects of an ethanol extract of artichoke leaves (EEA) compared to Atorvastatin (ATOR) in the kidney of Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet. The experimental animals were divided into five groups: control (Cont), HFD, HFD treated with EEA (200 mg/kg), HFD treated with EEA (400 mg/kg), and HFD treated with ATOR. Organ weights, lipid profile, renal markers, and antioxidants enzymes were measured. Oral administration of EEA (200 and 400 mg/kg) for 60 days showed a significant decrease in organ weights and kidney markers levels accompanied by decreasing in oxidative stress biomarkers as compared to HFD groups. The histological findings showed a renoprotective effect of artichoke extract. These findings suggest that EEA exerts anti-oxidant kidney effects in HFD- induced obese rats.

Therapeutic Effects of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) and Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

BACKGROUND

At present, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) does not have an approved pharmacologic therapy. The present study investigated the protective effects and possible mechanisms of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L.) and artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) in treating NAFLD in type 2 diabetic rats.

METHODS

The NAFLD was established in rats after four weeks of type 2 diabetes induction. The animals were treated with pharmaceutical preparations of milk thistle (Livergol®) and artichoke (Atheromod-B®) extracts for eight weeks. After the end of the intervention, oral glucose tolerance, the serum parameters of oxidative stress, liver functional tests, and lipid profiles were evaluated. Histopathological changes were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

RESULTS

Treatment with preparations of milk thistle and artichoke nonsignificantly improved glucose tolerance in diabetic rats. Both preparations significantly improved serum superoxide dismutase activity and the level of malondialdehyde. Although treatment with milk thistle reduced serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase and serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, artichoke extracts only attenuated the serum level of TG. Milk thistle also effectively protected the liver from histological changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Milk thistle could be a promising pharmacological option for the treatment of NAFLD. Nonetheless, long-term randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm the observed results.

Bioactive Compounds from Cardoon as Health Promoters in Metabolic Disorders

Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) is a Mediterranean plant and member of the Asteraceae family that includes three botanical taxa, the wild perennial cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. sylvestris (Lamk) Fiori), globe artichoke (C. cardunculus L. var. scolymus L. Fiori), and domesticated cardoon (C. cardunculus L. var. altilis DC.). Cardoon has been widely used in the Mediterranean diet and folk medicine since ancient times. Today, cardoon is recognized as a plant with great industrial potential and is considered as a functional food, with important nutritional value, being an interesting source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, minerals, inulin, fiber, and sesquiterpene lactones. These bioactive compounds have been vastly described in the literature, exhibiting a wide range of beneficial effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, antihemorrhoidal, cardiotonic, and choleretic activity. In this review, an overview of the cardoon nutritional and phytochemical composition, as well as its biological potential, is provided, highlighting the main therapeutic effects of the different parts of the cardoon plant on metabolic disorders, specifically associated with hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, and antidiabetic activity.

Valuable Hepatoprotective Plants - How Can We Optimize Waste Free Uses of Such Highly Versatile Resources?

Humans used plants for thousand of years as food, drugs, or fuel to keep homes warm. People commonly used fruits and roots, and other parts of the plant were often wasted. This review aims to discuss the potential of rational stem-to-stern use of three highly versatile and valuable plants with hepatoprotective properties. Milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertn.), artichoke (Cynara cardunculus), and chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) have well-characterized hepatoprotective properties. These plants have been chosen since liver diseases are significant diseases of concern worldwide, and all parts of plants can be potentially utilized. Artichoke and chicory are commonly used as food or dietary supplements and less often as phytodrugs. Various dietary supplements and phytodrugs prepared from milk thistle (MT) fruits/seeds are well-known to consumers as remedies supporting liver functions. However, using these plants as functional food, farm animal feed, is not well-described in the literature. We also discuss bioactive constituents present in various parts of these plants, their pharmacological properties. Distinct parts of MT, artichoke, and chicory can be used to prepare remedies and food for humans and animals. Unused plant parts are potentially wasted. To achieve waste-free use of these and many other plants, the scientific community needs to analyze the complex use of plants and propose strategies for waste-free technologies. The government must stimulate companies to utilize by-products. Another problem associated with plant use as a food or source of phytodrug is the overharvesting of wild plants. Consequently, there is a need to use more active cultivation techniques for plants.

The effects of co-administration of artichoke leaf extract supplementation with metformin and vitamin E in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized clinical trial

Medicinal plants are widely used as a complementary therapy to treat complex diseases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Therefore, this study was done to investigate the effect of co-administration of artichoke leaf extract supplement (ALES) with conventional medicines on patients with NAFLD. The clinical trial was based on patients randomly divided into three groups involving metformin-vitamin E (ME), metformin-ALES (MA), and vitamin E-ALES (EA). The effectiveness of treatment in the treated groups was evaluated using liver ultrasonography and biochemical markers. After 12 weeks of treatment, the results showed that the rate of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly reduced within all the study groups (p < .05). Liver ultrasonographic findings revealed that the rate of fat accumulation in liver of patients was decreased significantly within all the study groups and it was increased in the subjects with grade 0 fatty liver (without fat accumulation) in the MA and EA groups by 23.3 and 17.2%, respectively. In summary, the results of the present study showed that the concomitant use of ALES with metformin and vitamin E can have beneficial effects on amelioration of complications in patients with NAFLD. However, larger-scale clinical trial studies are required in this regard.

Metabolic and Anti-Inflammatory Protective Properties of Human Enriched Serum Following Artichoke Leaf Extract Absorption: Results from an Innovative Ex Vivo Clinical Trial

The aging of our population is accompanied by an increased prevalence of chronic diseases. Among those, liver, joint and adipose tissue-related pathologies have a major socio-economic impact. They share common origins as they result from a dysregulation of the inflammatory and metabolic status. Plant-derived nutrients and especially polyphenols, exert a large range of beneficial effects in the prevention of chronic diseases but require clinically validated approaches for optimized care management. In this study, we designed an innovative clinical approach considering the metabolites produced by the digestive tract following the ingestion of an artichoke leaf extract. Human serum, enriched with metabolites deriving from the extract, was collected and incubated with human hepatocytes, human primary chondrocytes and adipocytes to determine the biological activity of the extract. Changes in cellular behavior demonstrated that the artichoke leaf extract protects hepatocytes from lipotoxic stress, prevents adipocytes differentiation and hyperplasia, and exerts chondroprotective properties in an inflammatory context. These data validate the beneficial health properties of an artichoke leaf extract at the clinical level and provide both insights and further evidence that plant-derived nutrients and especially polyphenols from artichoke may represent a relevant alternative for nutritional strategies addressing chronic disease issues.

Protective potential of Cynara scolymus extract in thioacetamide model of hepatic injury in rats

Hepatic injury is a worldwide health problem. This study aimed to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective potential of Artichoke (Cynara scolymus) extract (CSE) in albino rats using the thioacetamide (TAA) a model of liver injury. Acclimatized 42 rats were divided randomly into seven groups, each consists of six rats, and subjected to different treatments. Hepatic injury model was induced by administration of TAA at a dose of 100 mg per kg, intraperitoneally, twice weekly for 8 weeks (+ve control); test groups rats received CSE at doses of 100 or 200 mg/kg BW, orally, daily for 8 weeks adjunct with TAA; standard group rats received Silymarin at a dose of 100 mg per kg, orally, daily for 8 weeks adjunct with TAA; other 2 groups of rats received only CSE at the same dose levels; while -ve control rats received only the vehicles. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected at the end of the experimental course for different assessments. Results revealed that CSE exhibited dose-dependent hepatoprotection indicated by nearly normalized parameters, including enzymatic liver function parameters (AST, ALT, GGT & ALP with potential % of 94.06, 86.96, 85.93, 64.85, respectively, after large dose when standardized by Silymarin); non-enzymatic parameters (total protein, albumin, globulins, total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, unconjugated bilirubin, TAGs, Cholesterol, HDL, LDL & VLDL with potential % of 83.42, 85.9, 83.44, 98.1, 77.41, 91.5, 97.51, 97.46, 81.41, 88.52 & 89.4, respectively, after large dose when standardized by Silymarin). The underlying mechanism of the observed hepatoprotection of CSE was attributed to impeding the oxidative stress-mediated by TAA, indicated by reduced hepatocyte lipid peroxidation product MDA (95.96 % of Silymarin), and improved antioxidative enzymes in liver homogenate, namely, GPx, Catalase & SOD with potentials of 95.44, 87.02 & 81.48 % of Silymarin, respectively. Macroscopic and microscopic pathological pictures were supportive to the biochemical findings, where the pathological lesions caused by TAA as congestion and dilatation of central and portal veins with perivascular fibrous connective tissue proliferation admixed with few mononuclear leukocytes plus necrotic hepatocytes and hyperplastic biliary epithelium, were ameliorated dose-dependently when CSE was administered together with TAA. The present study's data may suggest CSE as a natural source for promising hepatoprotective and antioxidant drug preparations.

Determination of total antioxidant capacity of Cynara Scolymus L. (globe artichoke) by using novel nanoparticle-based ferricyanide/Prussian blue assay

A novel ferricyanide/Prussian blue (PB) assay for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) determination was developed exploiting the formation of PB nanoparticles in the presence of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer. This improved method, named as "nanoparticle-based ferricyanide/Prussian blue assay (PBNP)", was applied to the TAC measurement of Cynara Scolymus L. (globe artichoke). The calibration results of the novel (PBNP) method were compared with those of a similar nanoparticle PB method performed in the absence of PVP, and of a sodium dodecyl sulfate-modified and acid-optimized ferricyanide reference assay. Compared to similar common Fe(III)-based TAC assays, much higher molar absorptivities, pointing out higher response to different kinds of antioxidants, were obtained with PBNP for all tested antioxidants, and lower LOD and LOQ values were achieved for thiols. As an additional advantage, methionine, not responding to other electron-transfer based TAC reagents, could be measured. PBNP could detect various antioxidants with one-two orders-of-magnitude lower LOD values than those of widely used TAC assays like CUPRAC and Folin-Ciocalteau well correlating with the proposed assay.