Hepatoprotective Effects of Pycnogenol in a Rat Model of Non‐alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Abstract

Oxidative stress is considered as a mechanism of hepatocellular injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Pycnogenol (PYC) is the natural plant extract from the bark of Pinus pinaster Aiton. and has potent antioxidant activities. We studied the protective effect of PYC on excessive fat accumulation in the liver fed a methionine-choline deficient (MCD) high-fat diet for 6 weeks. Pycnogenol (10 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered for 5 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood and liver samples were collected and assessed for effects of PYC by histopathological and biochemical analyses. Histopathological analyses of liver tissues stained with Azan-Mallory showed hepatic macrovesicular steatosis and fibrosis in MCD-fed rats. Supplementation of PYC prevented this effect. Pycnogenol treatment significantly decreased the liver triglyceride and serum alanine amino transferase levels. Our results indicated that orally administered PYC may serve to prevent NASH-induced liver damage.

Pycnogenol protects against diet-induced hepatic steatosis in apolipoprotein-E-deficient mice

“…In this study, we evaluated the effects of PYC on hepatic steatosis and further explored the underlying mechanism in ApoE-deficient mice. Previous studies have shown that PYC effects the regulation of lipid metabolism and possesses protective effects on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (5,18,38). In line with previous results, we found that PYC reduced body weight gain and decreased plasma lipid and hepatic lipid accumulation in ApoE-deficient mice.…”

“…Meanwhile, an openlabel controlled study has shown that the supplementation of PYC in 130 subjects with symptoms of metabolic syndrome decreases waist circumference and TG levels and increases HDL levels (5). It has been reported that PYC is involved in lipid metabolism and has a protective capacity against hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in the livers of mice (18,38,44). The phenols and polyphenols, as the main ingredient of PYC, have been shown to improve hepatic steatosis, including apple polyphenols, resveratrol, polyphenol-rich grape skin extract, and others (3,28,42,54,56).…”

Pine bark extract (Pycnogenol®) suppresses cigarette smoke-induced fibrotic response via transforming growth factor-β1/Smad family member 2/3 signaling

“…However, the PYC-treated animals exerted a marked decreased in histological collagen deposition and collagen I expression in comparison to CS and LPS-exposed animals. It has been demonstrated that PYC significantly suppresses fat accumulation and fibrosis in the liver of high-fat diet model and prevents the development of viral myocarditis by decreasing inflammation and fibrosis [910]. These findings indicate that PYC may suppress the fibrotic change in the lung tissue caused by CS and LPS exposure.…”

“…Pycnogenol® (PYC, pine bark extract) is a trade name and a standardized mixture of the bark of French maritime pine [8]. Recent reports have demonstrated that PYC significantly suppresses inflammation, fat accumulation, and fibrosis in the liver and heart [910]. In addition, the preventive effect of PYC against wrinkle formation through TGF and type I procollagen has been described [11].…”

Pycnogenol: A Miracle Component in Reducing Ageing and Skin Disorders

“…The other major important sources of pycnogenol are peanut skin, grape seed, and witch hazel bark. It has been showing highly protective properties against several diseases such as cardiovascular dysfunctions [15], kidney diseases [16], hepatic dysfunctions [17], neuro cognitive disorders [18], diabetes [19], reproductive dysfunctions and infertility [20], skin diseases [21], cancer [22], digestion [23], retinal diseases [24] and other dysfunctions. In fact, beneficial effects of pycnogenol have been showing all over the biological system on both animals and human studies.…”