Beneficial effects of silibinin on serum lipids, bile acids, and gut microbiota in methionine-choline-deficient diet-induced mice

A methionine-choline-deficient diet induces nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and alters the lipidome, metabolome, and gut microbiome profile in the C57BL/6J mouse

The methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in mice is a well-established model. Our study aims to elucidate the factors influencing liver pathology in the MCD mouse model by examining physiological, biochemical, and molecular changes using histology, molecular techniques, and OMICS approaches (lipidomics, metabolomics, and metagenomics). Male C57BL/6J mice were fed a standard chow diet, a methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) diet, or an MCD diet for 10 weeks. The MCD diet resulted in reduced body weight and fat mass, along with decreased plasma triglyceride, cholesterol, glucose, and insulin levels. However, it notably induced steatosis, inflammation, and alterations in gene expression associated with lipogenesis, inflammation, fibrosis, and the synthesis of apolipoproteins, sphingolipids, ceramides, and carboxylesterases. Lipid analysis revealed significant changes in plasma and tissues: most ceramide non-hydroxy-sphingosine lipids significantly decreased in the liver and plasma but increased in the adipose tissue of MCD diet-fed animals. Oxidized glycerophospholipids mostly increased in the liver but decreased in the adipose tissue of the MCD diet-fed group. The gut microbiome of the MCD diet-fed group showed an increase in Firmicutes and a decrease in Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria. Metabolomic profiling demonstrated that the MCD diet significantly altered amino acid biosynthesis, metabolism, and nucleic acid metabolism pathways in plasma, liver, fecal, and cecal samples. LC-MS data indicated higher total plasma bile acid intensity and reduced fecal glycohyodeoxycholic acid intensity in the MCD diet group. This study demonstrates that although the MCD diet induces hepatic steatosis, the mechanisms underlying NASH in this model differ from those in human NASH pathology.

Novel Strategies Enhancing Bioavailability and Therapeutical Potential of Silibinin for Treatment of Liver Disorders

Silibinin, a bioactive component found in milk thistle extract (Silybum marianum), is known to have significant therapeutic potential in the treatment of various liver diseases. It is considered a key element of silymarin, which is traditionally used to support liver function. The main mechanisms of action of silibinin are attributed to its antioxidant properties protecting liver cells from damage caused by free radicals. Experimental studies conducted in vitro and in vivo have confirmed its ability to inhibit inflammatory and fibrotic processes, as well as promote the regeneration of damaged liver tissue. Therefore, silibinin represents a promising tool for the treatment of liver diseases. Since the silibinin molecule is insoluble in water and has poor bioavailability in vivo, new perspectives on solving this problem are being sought. The two most promising approaches are the water-soluble derivative silibinin-C-2',3-dihydrogen succinate, disodium salt, and the silibinin-phosphatidylcholine complex. Both drugs are currently under evaluation in liver disease clinical trials. Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying silibinin biological activity is still elusive and its more detailed understanding would undoubtedly increase its potential in the development of effective therapeutic strategies against liver diseases. This review is focused on the therapeutic potential of silibinin and its derivates, approaches to increase the bioavailability and the benefits in the treatment of liver diseases that have been achieved so far. The review discusses the relevant in vitro and in vivo studies that investigated the protective effects of silibinin in various forms of liver damage.

The emerging role of the gut microbiota and its application in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, is a complex disorder with an unknown cause. However, the dysbiosis of the gut microbiome has been found to play a role in IBD etiology, including exacerbated immune responses and defective intestinal barrier integrity. The gut microbiome can also be a potential biomarker for several diseases, including IBD. Currently, conventional treatments targeting pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathways in IBD-associated dysbiosis do not yield effective results. Other therapies that directly target the dysbiotic microbiome for effective outcomes are emerging. We review the role of the gut microbiome in health and IBD and its potential as a diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic target for IBD. This review also explores emerging therapeutic advancements that target gut microbiome-associated alterations in IBD, such as nanoparticle or encapsulation delivery, fecal microbiota transplantation, nutritional therapies, microbiome/probiotic engineering, phage therapy, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), gut proteins, and herbal formulas.

Current landscape of fecal microbiota transplantation in treating depression

Depression, projected to be the predominant contributor to the global disease burden, is a complex condition with diverse symptoms including mood disturbances and cognitive impairments. Traditional treatments such as medication and psychotherapy often fall short, prompting the pursuit of alternative interventions. Recent research has highlighted the significant role of gut microbiota in mental health, influencing emotional and neural regulation. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), the infusion of fecal matter from a healthy donor into the gut of a patient, emerges as a promising strategy to ameliorate depressive symptoms by restoring gut microbial balance. The microbial-gut-brain (MGB) axis represents a critical pathway through which to potentially rectify dysbiosis and modulate neuropsychiatric outcomes. Preclinical studies reveal that FMT can enhance neurochemicals and reduce inflammatory markers, thereby alleviating depressive behaviors. Moreover, FMT has shown promise in clinical settings, improving gastrointestinal symptoms and overall quality of life in patients with depression. The review highlights the role of the gut-brain axis in depression and the need for further research to validate the long-term safety and efficacy of FMT, identify specific therapeutic microbial strains, and develop targeted microbial modulation strategies. Advancing our understanding of FMT could revolutionize depression treatment, shifting the paradigm toward microbiome-targeting therapies.

Supplementation with Silybum marianum Extract, Synbiotics, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamins, and Minerals: Impact on Biochemical Markers and Fecal Microbiome in Overweight Dogs

Overweight and obese dogs can develop metabolic dysfunction, characterized by an inflammatory response and involvement of liver functions. If a modulation of the gut microbiome and its interaction with the gut-liver axis is implicated in the development of metabolic dysfunction, exploration becomes necessary. Over the past decade, diverse therapeutic approaches have emerged to target pathogenic factors involved in metabolic dysfunction. This study investigated the impact of a supplement with hepatoprotective activity, containing extracts of Silybum marianum, prebiotics, probiotics, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals on hematological markers of liver functions and inflammation, as well as on the intestinal microbiota of 10 overweight adult dogs over a 35-day time span. Animals underwent clinical and laboratory evaluations every 7 days, both before the administration of the supplement (T0) and after 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days (T1, T2, T3, T4, and T5). In comparison to T0, a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in ALP, glucose, direct bilirubin, and CRP was observed from T3 to T5. The alpha diversity of the fecal microbiota significantly decreased (p < 0.05) only at T1, with high variability observed between dogs. Total short-chain fatty acid and lactic acid were also lower at T1 (p < 0.05) compared to the other times of sampling. The beta diversity of the fecal microbiota failed to show a clear pattern in relation to the sampling times. These results of blood parameters in overweight dogs show a reduction of the inflammation and an improvement of metabolic status during the study period, but the effective contribution of the supplement in this clinical outcome deserves further investigation. Furthermore, the considerable individual variability observed in the microbiome hinders the confident detection of supplement effects.