Corilagin prevents non-alcoholic fatty liver disease via improving lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis in high fat diet-fed mice

Anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory bioactive hits from Coriaria intermedia Matsum. stem and Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe bark through bioassay-guided fractionation and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Women have been found to be at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and asthma. α-Glucosidase inhibitors have been used to treat T2DM, and arachidonic acid 15-lipoxygenase (ALOX15) inhibitors have been suggested to be used as treatments for asthma and T2DM. Compounds that inhibit both enzymes may be studied as potential treatments for people with both T2DM and asthma. This study aimed to determine potential anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory bioactive hits from Coriaria intermedia Matsum. stem and Dracontomelon dao (Blanco) Merr. & Rolfe bark. A bioassay-guided fractionation framework was used to generate bioactive fractions from C. intermedia stem and D. dao bark. Subsequently, dereplication through ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and database searching was performed to putatively identify the components of one bioactive fraction from each plant. Seven compounds were putatively identified from the C. intermedia stem active fraction, and six of these compounds were putatively identified from this plant for the first time. Nine compounds were putatively identified from the D. dao bark active fraction, and seven of these compounds were putatively identified from this plant for the first time. One putative compound from the C. intermedia stem active fraction (corilagin) has been previously reported to have inhibitory activity against both α-glucosidase and 15-lipoxygenase-1. It is suggested that further studies on the potential of corilagin as an anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory treatment should be pursued based on its several beneficial pharmacological activities and its low reported toxicity.

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.

Corilagin attenuates airway inflammation and collagen deposition in ovalbumin-induced asthmatic mice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of corilagin on inflammation and collagen deposition in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mouse model and uncover the mechanism.

METHODS

We constructed a mouse model of OVA-induced asthma. Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent serologic assays were conducted to detect the effects of corilagin on cytokines and Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to show pathological features in lung tissues. Masson trichrome assay was used to examine collagen deposition. In addition, the lung function was detected by mouse lung function apparatus. Immunoblot was used to confirm the mechanism.

RESULTS

Corilagin alleviates OVA-induced cytokine and IgE production. In addition, corilagin alleviates OVA-induced pathological changes and collagen deposition in lung tissues. Corilagin also suppressed airway resistance and lung function in mice. Mechanically, corilagin activated the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway in lung tissues.

CONCLUSION

Corilagin attenuates airway inflammation and collagen deposition in OVA-induced asthmatic mice via AMPK pathway.

Liquiritigenin regulates insulin sensitivity and ameliorates inflammatory responses in the nonalcoholic fatty liver by activation PI3K/AKT pathway

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent long-term disease in the world. Liquiritigenin (LQ) is protective against a variety of hepatotoxins. Herein, we report the potential mechanism of LQ on a high-fat diet (HFD) induced NAFLD. NAFLD mice model was established by HFD for 12 weeks, and LQ treatment for 1 week. Commercially available assay kits measure liver triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels. Plasm TC, TG, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL-C), and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were also monitored by biochemistry. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were performed to analyze the pro-inflammatory factors, and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), insulin tolerance test (IPITT), and serum insulin were also determined. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis was employed to analyze the overlapping genes of LQ targets and NAFLD development-related targets. Western blot was performed on key proteins of the enriched signaling pathway. HFD mice showed significant increases in hepatic TG and TC, and plasm TC, TG, and LDL-C in blood lipids, while HDL-C significantly decreased, and LQ treatment reversed their levels (p < 0.05). LQ also alleviated HFD-induced elevated levels of IPGTT, IPITT, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). And serum levels of the pro-inflammatory factor were also suppressed by LQ. PI3K/AKT pathway was enriched by KEGG pathway enrichment, and its key proteins p-PI3K and p-AKT were elevated after LQ treatment (p < 0.05). We found for the first time that LQ improves lipid accumulation, alleviates insulin resistance, and suppresses inflammatory responses in NAFLD mice, which might be associated with the activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Chemical Characterization, Antilipidemic Effect and Anti-Obesity Activity of Ludwigia octovalvis in a Murine Model of Metabolic Syndrome

Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P.H. Raven is widely used in traditional medicine for different illnesses, including diabetes and hypertension. However, its impact on lipotoxicity and metabolic syndrome in vivo has not been addressed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this plant on the metabolic syndrome parameters in a C57BL6J mouse hypercaloric diet model. L. octovalvis hydroalcoholic extract and its ethyl acetate fraction (25 mg/kg/day) were used for sub-chronic assessment (10 weeks). Additionally, four subfractions (25 mg/kg) were evaluated in the postprandial triglyceridemia test in healthy C57BL6J mice. The hydroalcoholic extract and ethyl acetate fraction significantly decreased body weight gain (-6.9 g and -1.5 g), fasting glycemia (-46.1 and -31.2 mg/dL), systolic (-26.0 and -22.5 mmHg) and diastolic (-8.1 and 16.2 mmHg) blood pressure, free fatty acid concentration (-13.8 and -8.0 μg/mL) and insulin-resistance (measured by TyG index, -0.207 and -0.18), compared to the negative control. A postprandial triglyceridemia test showed that the effects in the sub-chronic model are due, at least in part, to improvement in this parameter. L. octovalvis treatments, particularly the hydroalcoholic extract, improve MS alterations and decrease free fatty acid concentration. These effects are possibly due to high contents of corilagin and ellagic acid.

Network pharmacology-based analysis of Resinacein S against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating lipid metabolism

Background

Ganoderma lucidum is reportedly the best source of traditional natural bioactive constituents. Ganoderma triterpenoids (GTs) have been verified as an alternative adjuvant for treating leukemia, cancer, hepatitis and diabetes. One of the major triterpenoids, Resinacein S, has been found to regulate lipid metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease that has become a major public health problem. Given the regulatory effects on lipid metabolism of Resinacein S, we sought to explore potential protective effects against NAFLD.

Methods

Resinacein S was extracted and isolated from G. lucidum. And mice were fed with high fat diet with or without Resinacein S to detect hepatic steatosis. According to Network Pharmacology and RNA-seq, we analyzed the hub genes of Resinacein S against NAFLD disease.

Results

Our results can be summarized as follows: (1) The structure of Resinacein S was elucidated using NMR and MS methods. (2) Resinacein S treatment could significantly attenuate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis and hepatic lipid accumulation in mouse. (3) GO terms, KEGG pathways and the PPI network of Resinacein S induced Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) demonstrated the key target genes of Resinacein S against NAFLD. (4) The hub proteins in PPI network analysis could be used for NAFLD diagnosis and treatment as drug targets.

Conclusion

Resinacein S can significantly change the lipid metabolism in liver cells and yield a protective effect against steatosis and liver injury. Intersected proteins between NAFLD related genes and Resinacein S-induced DEGs, especially the hub protein in PPI network analysis, can be used to characterize targets of Resinacein S against NAFLD.

Triptolide increases resistance to bile duct ligation-induced liver injury and fibrosis in mice by inhibiting RELB

Cholestasis is a common, chronic liver disease that may cause fibrosis and cirrhosis. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f (TWHF) is a species in the Euonymus family that is commonly used as a source of medicine and food in Eastern and Southern China. Triptolide (TP) is an epoxy diterpene lactone of TWHF, as well as the main active ingredient in TWHF. Here, we used a mouse model of common bile duct ligation (BDL) cholestasis, along with cultured human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells, to explore whether TP can relieve cholestasis. Compared with the control treatment, TP at a dose of 70 or 140 μg/kg reduced the serum levels of the liver enzymes alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in mice; hematoxylin and eosin staining also showed that TP reduced necrosis in tissues. Both in vitro and in vivo analyses revealed that TP inhibited cholangiocyte proliferation by reducing the expression of RelB. Immunohistochemical staining of CK19 and Ki67, as well as measurement of Ck19 mRNA levels in hepatic tissue, revealed that TP inhibited the BDL-induced ductular reaction. Masson 3 and Sirius Red staining for hepatic hydroxyproline showed that TP alleviated BDL-induced hepatic fibrosis. Additionally, TP substantially inhibited BDL-induced hepatic inflammation. In summary, TP inhibited the BDL-induced ductular reaction by reducing the expression of RelB in cholangiocytes, thereby alleviating liver injury, fibrosis, and inflammation.