Aqueous extract of Artemisia capillaris improves non-alcoholic fatty liver and obesity in mice induced by high-fat diet

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases and is a nutritional metabolic disease. Artemisia capillaris (AC) is the above-ground dried part of Artemisia capillaris Thunb. or Artemisia scoparia Waldst. et Kit., a natural medicinal plant with pharmacological effects of heat-clearing and biliary-promoting. In order to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Artemisia capillaris on NAFLD and obesity, experiments were conducted using aqueous extracts of Artemisia capillaris (WAC) to intervene in NAFLD models in vivo and in vitro. In vivo experiments were performed using HFD-fed (high fat diet) C57BL/6 mice to induce NAFLD model, and in vitro experiments were performed using oleic acid to induce HepG2 cells to construct NAFLD cell model. H.E. staining and oil red O staining of liver tissue were used to observe hepatocytes. Blood biochemistry analyzer was used to detect serum lipid levels in mice. The drug targets and mechanism of action of AC to improve NAFLD were investigated by western blotting, qRT-PCR and immunofluorescence. The results showed that C57BL/6 mice fed HFD continuously for 16 weeks met the criteria for NAFLD in terms of lipid index and hepatocyte fat accumulation. WAC was able to reverse the elevation of serum lipid levels induced by high-fat diet in mice. WAC promoted the phosphorylation levels of PI3K/AKT and AMPK in liver and HepG2 cells of NAFLD mice, inhibited SREBP-1c expression, reduced TG and lipogenesis, and decreased lipid accumulation. In summary, WAC extract activates PI3K/AKT pathway, reduces SREBP-1c protein expression by promoting AMPK phosphorylation, and decreases fatty acid synthesis and TG content in hepatocytes. AC can be used as a potential health herb to improve NAFLD and obesity.

Potential Hepatoprotective Effect of Matricaria Pubescens on High‐Fat Diet‐Induced Non‐Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats

“…Previously published reports also support our findings that M. pubescens may reduce high triglyceride levels and exhibit a hypolipidemic effect in rats. [16] This hypolipidemic effect may be due to the presence of flavonoids such as quercetin and phenolic acids such as gallic acid and caffeic acid, which alter peroxisome proliferatoractivated receptor-γ expression [22] and decrease levels of TG and non-esterified free fatty acids. [33] In our experimental study, hepatic TNF-α level was significantly increased in the HFD group compared to the control group.…”

“…At the same time, M. pubescens powder supplementation lowered the relative epididymal fat weight and decreased the surface area of adipocytes compared to the HFD group. The ameliorative effect of M. pubescens on body weight, BMI, and relative epididymal fat weight may be attributed to the presence of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, which inhibit the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis, [22] adipogenesis, and adipocyte proliferation. [23] On the other hand, the HFD group developed hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, which is observed by the high levels of blood glucose and TyG index when compared to the control group.…”

“…Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing between 120-150g were used in this study. The animals were obtained from Pasteur Institute (Algiers, Algeria) and kept in the animal breeding laboratory, Department of Biology, Badji-Mokhtar, Annaba University, under standard laboratory conditions (22)(23)(24)(25)…”