Ethanolic Extract of Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai Alleviates Alcoholic Liver Damage Combined with a High-Fat Diet in C57BL/6J Mice

Targeting Mitochondrial ROS-Mediated Ferroptosis by Quercetin Alleviates High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Lipotoxicity

Background: The protective effect of quercetin on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been reported, but its mechanism remains poorly understood. Recently, quercetin was reported to be capable of inhibiting ferroptosis, which is a recognized type of regulated cell death. Moreover, hepatic ferroptosis plays an important role in the progression of NAFLD, but experimental evidence is limited. Hence, our study aimed to investigate the effect of quercetin on hepatic ferroptosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD and further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism.

Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed either a normal diet (ND), an HFD, or an HFD supplemented with quercetin for 12 weeks. Hepatic lipid peroxidation, steatosis, ferroptosis and iron overload were examined. In vitro, steatotic L-02 cells was used to study the potential mechanism.

Results: We found that the HFD caused lipid peroxidation, lipid accumulation and ferroptosis in the liver, which were rescued by quercetin supplementation. Consistent with the in vivo results, quercetin alleviated lipid droplet accumulation and reduced the levels of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ferroptosis in steatotic L-02 cells. Using a mitochondrial ROS (MtROS) scavenger (Mito-TEMPO) and ferroptosis specific inhibitor (Fer-1), we found that quercetin remarkably alleviated lipid droplet accumulation and lipid peroxidation by reducing MtROS-mediated ferroptosis in steatotic L-02 cells.

Conclusion: Our data showed that HFD consumption induced lipid accumulation and triggered ferroptosis in liver, ultimately leading to hepatic lipotoxicity, which can be alleviated by quercetin. Findings from this study provide new insight into the mechanism by which quercetin can be used for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

CBD Alleviates Liver Injuries in Alcoholics With High-Fat High-Cholesterol Diet Through Regulating NLRP3 Inflammasome-Pyroptosis Pathway

Alcohol abuse and high-fat diet–induced liver diseases have been the most prevalent chronic liver diseases and the leading reasons for liver transplantation around the world. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a botanical component extracted from marijuana plants without psychoactive impact. In our previous reports, we found that CBD can prevent fatty liver induced by Lieber–DeCarli ethanol diet or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by high-fat high-cholesterol diet. The current work is a further study on whether CBD can alleviate liver injuries induced by ethanol plus high-fat high-cholesterol diet (EHFD), which is a model simulating heavy alcohol drinkers in a Western diet. A mice liver injury model induced by EHFD for 8 weeks was applied to explore the protective properties of CBD and the underlying mechanisms. We found that CBD prevented liver steatosis and oxidative stress induced by EHFD. CBD treatment inhibited macrophage recruitment and suppressed activation of NFκB–NLRP3–pyroptosis pathway in mice livers. The hepatoprotective property of CBD in the current model might be a result of inhibition of inflammation via alleviating activation of the hepatic NFκB–NLRP3 inflammasome–pyroptosis pathway by CBD.

Hepatic steatosis integrated approach: nutritional guidelines and joined nutraceutical administration

BACKGROUND

The nonalcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD) progresses in 30% of the patients to not alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and subsequently in liver fibrosis and even primary cancer and death. Due to the complex physiopathology of the liver steatosis, NASH is an area orphan of specific drugs, but many authors suggest an integrated treatment based upon diet, lifestyle change, and pharmacology.

METHODS

Our clinical study selected from a wider patient cohort, 13 subjects, appealing to the Second Opinion Medical Consulting Network, for liver and nutritional problems. The diet was integrated with regular prescription of an herbal derivative based on Chrysanthellum americanum and Pistacia lentiscus L. extracts. Clinical data of the recruited patients including body weight, Body Mass Index, were recorded before and after treatment. Each patient underwent pre-post accurate clinical examination and lab exams. The liver stiffness and liver steatosis were evaluated by a trained hepatologist with FibroScan^®.

RESULTS

A significant reduction of anthropometric parameters was detected in all the patients at the end of the study; liver fibrosis and steatosis were instrumentally decreased in 8 subjects, but not significant changes in lab exams and no adverse effects were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Chrysanthellum americanum and Pistacia lentiscus L. extracts were absolutely safe and effective and gave a substantial contribution to the life quality benefit, metabolic balance and gut function in patients with hepatic steatosis.

Fermented mulberry (Morus alba) leaves suppress high fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis through amelioration of the inflammatory response and autophagy pathway

BACKGROUND

A novel extract of mulberry leaves fermented with Cordyceps militaris (EMfC) is reported to exert anti-obesity activity, although their molecular mechanism during hepatic steatosis has not verified.

METHODS

To investigate the role of inflammation and autophagy during the anti-hepatic steatosis effects of EMfC, we measured alterations in the key parameters for inflammatory response and autophagy pathway in liver tissues of the high fat diet (HFD) treated C57BL/6N mice after exposure to EMfC for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Significant anti-hepatic steatosis effects, including decreased number of lipid droplets and expression of Klf2 mRNA, were detected in the liver of the HFD + EMfC treated group. The levels of mast cell infiltration, expression of two inflammatory mediators (iNOS and COX-2), and the MAPK signaling pathway were remarkably decreased in the liver of HFD + EMfC treated group as compared to the HFD + Vehicle treated group. Furthermore, a similar inhibitory effect was measured for the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NF-κB. The expression level of members in the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway (a central regulator in autophagy) was recovered after treatment with EMfC, and autophagy-related proteins (Beclin and LC3-II) were remarkably decreased in the HFD + EMfC treated group compared to the HFD + Vehicle treated group. Moreover, the HFD + EMfC treated group showed decreased transcript levels of autophagy-regulated genes including Atg4b, Atg5, Atg7 and Atg12.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, findings of the present study provide novel evidences that the anti-hepatic steatosis of EMfC is tightly linked to the regulation of the inflammatory response and autophagy pathway in the liver tissue of HFD-induced obesity mice.

Selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum protected alcohol and high fat diet induced hepatic injury in mice

The objective of this study was to verify the protective effect of Bifidobacterium longum (BL) and the synergistical effect of Selenium and BL on alcohol plus high fat diet (HFD) induced hepatic injury in mice. We also want to explore the mechanism of Selenium-enriched Bifidobacterium longum (SeBL). C57BL/6 mice were treated with alcohol plus HFD with or without different dosage of BL or SeBL for 4 weeks. Serum levels of ALT, AST, TC, TG, LDL-C, HDL-C, FFAs, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, hepatic MDA level, SOD activity, the mRNA levels of AMPK, PPAR-α and SREBP1 were invested. SeBL inhibited lipid accumulation in hepatocytes; reduced serum AST and ALT levels; improved dyslipidemia; decreased serum FFAs, TC, TG and LDL-C levels. SeBL also inhibited alcohol plus HFD-induced hepatocyte oxidative stress through decrease in hepatic MDA levels and increase in SOD activity. SeBL also regulated lipid metabolism related genes such as AMPK, PPAR-α and SREBP1. Although BL had similar effect as SeBL, SeBL is more effective than BL. SeBL protected mice from alcohol plus HFD-induced hepatic injury in mice because of its inhibitory effect on hepatocellular oxidative stress, lipogenesis and inflammation. Selenium enhanced the protective effect of BL.

Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Herbs and Supplements in Patients with NAFLD

Our aim is to review the efficacy of various herbs and supplements as a possible therapeutic option in the treatment and/or prevention of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We performed a systematic review of medical literature using the PubMed Database by searching the chemical names of many common herbs and supplements with “AND (NAFLD or NASH)”. Studies and medical literature that discussed the roles and usage of herbs and supplements in NAFLD and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) from inception until 20 June 2018 were reviewed. Many studies have claimed that the use of various herbs and supplements may improve disease endpoints and outcomes related to NAFLD and/or NASH. Improvement in liver function tests were noted. Amelioration or reduction of lobular inflammation, hepatic steatosis, and fibrosis were also noted. However, well-designed studies demonstrating improved clinical outcomes are lacking. Furthermore, experts remain concerned about the lack of regulation of herbs/supplements and the need for further research on potential adverse effects and herb–drug interactions. In conclusion, preliminary data on several herbs have demonstrated promising antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-adipogenic properties that may help curtail the progression of NAFLD/NASH. Clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy must be completed before widespread use can be recommended.