Natural compounds proposed for the management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) presents as an intricate condition characterized by a growing prevalence, the often-recommended lifestyle interventions mostly lack high-level evidence of efficacy and there are currently no effective drugs proposed for this indication. The present review delves into NAFLD pathology, its diverse underlying physiopathological mechanisms and the available in vitro, in vivo, and clinical evidence regarding the use of natural compounds for its management, through three pivotal targets (oxidative stress, cellular inflammation, and insulin resistance). The promising perspectives that natural compounds offer for NAFLD management underscore the need for additional clinical and lifestyle intervention trials. Encouraging further research will contribute to establishing more robust evidence and practical recommendations tailored to patients with varying NAFLD grades.

Effects of silybin supplementation on nutrient digestibility, hematological parameters, liver function indices, and liver-specific mi-RNA concentration in dogs

Background

Hepatopathies are an important group of disorders in dogs where proper nutritional care is crucial. Supplementation with a hepatoprotectant like silybin can improve liver function and should not interfere with nutrient digestibility. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of both pure silybin and commercial hepatoprotectant on nutrients digestibility, liver function indices and health status in healthy dogs (EXP1). Moreover, the second experiment (EXP2) investigated the effect of commercial hepatoprotectant on liver function tests and liver-associated miRNAs concentration in dogs with idiopathic liver disorder.

Results

Nutrient digestibility was not affected by treatment in EXP1. Supplementation did alter the serum fatty acid profile, with no clinical relevance. The levels of liver markers such as ALT, AST and GGT significantly decreased. In EXP2, supplementation with commercial hepatoprotectant containing silybin improved liver function tests. A decrease was observed in liver serum markers such as ALT, AST and miR122 concentration.

Conclusions

EXP1 confirmed that silybin (whether pure or as a commercial hepatoprotectant) does not interfere with digestion which subsequently exerts no detrimental effect on dogs’ health and metabolism. In EXP2, dietary supplementation with commercial hepatoprotectant containing silybin resulted in a decreased activity of serum liver markers, accompanied by a decrease in the concentration of liver-specific miRNA molecules. Liver function indices were consequently improved. Silybin supplementation can thus serve as an effective therapeutical tool in dogs with hepatopathies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-021-02929-3.

Anti-fibrotic potential of human umbilical cord mononuclear cells and mouse bone marrow cells in CCl4- induced liver fibrosis in mice

Liver fibrosis is the consequence of hepatocyte injury that leads to the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). The treatment of choice is Liver transplantation; however, it has many problems such as surgery-related complications, immunological rejection and high costs associated with the procedure. Stem cell-based therapy would be a potential alternative, so the aim of this study is to investigate the therapeutic potential of human umbilical cord mononuclear cells (MNC) and mouse bone marrow cells (BMC) against carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) induced liver fibrosis in mice and compare it with that of silymarin. In the present study, male albino mice (N=60) were divided into six groups (10 mice each), the first group served as the normal control group while the remaining five groups were rendered fibrotic by intraperitoneal injections of CCl₄ and being left for 6 weeks to develop hepatic fibrosis. Thereafter, the mice were divided into CCl₄ group, CCl₄ group receiving MNC or BMC or silymarin or MNC and silymarin combination. After the specified treatment period, animals were then euthanized, blood and tissue samples were collected for measurement of alanine aminotransferase(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase(AST), malondialdehyde(MDA), reduced glutathione(GSH), collagen, Laminin, transforming growth factor β1(TGFβ1), tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα). MNC, BMC, and the combination therapy showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, MDA, collagen, Laminin, TGFβ1, and TNFα and a significant increase in GSH. The data displayed a similar regression of fibrosis with the histological and immunohistological parameters. In conclusion, MNC, BMC and the combination therapy showed a potential therapeutic effect against liver fibrosis via reducing oxidative stress, inflammatory mediators, and fibrogenic markers.