Nuciferine Prevents Hepatic Steatosis and Injury Induced by a High-Fat Diet in Hamsters

Abstract

BackgroundNuciferine is a major active aporphine alkaloid from the leaves of N. nucifera Gaertn that possesses anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hypotensive, anti-arrhythmic, and insulin secretagogue activities. However, it is currently unknown whether nuciferine can benefit hepatic lipid metabolism.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn the current study, male golden hamsters were randomly divided into four groups fed a normal diet, a high-fat diet (HFD), or a HFD supplemented with nuciferine (10 and 15 mg/kg·BW/day). After 8 weeks of intervention, HFD-induced increases in liver and visceral adipose tissue weight, dyslipidemia, liver steatosis, and mild necroinflammation in hamsters were analyzed. Nuciferine supplementation protected against HFD-induced changes, alleviated necroinflammation, and reversed serum markers of metabolic syndrome in hamsters fed a HFD. RT-PCR and western blot analyses revealed that hamsters fed a HFD had up-regulated levels of genes related to lipogenesis, increased free fatty acid infiltration, and down-regulated genes involved in lipolysis and very low density lipoprotein secretion. In addition, gene expression of cytochrome P4502E1 and tumor necrosis factor-α were also increased in the HFD group. Nuciferine supplementation clearly suppressed HFD-induced alterations in the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism.Conclusions/SignificanceNuciferine supplementation ameliorated HFD-induced dyslipidemia as well as liver steatosis and injury. The beneficial effects of nuciferine were associated with altered expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism.

Nuciferine ameliorates hepatic steatosis in high‐fat diet/streptozocin‐induced diabetic mice through a PPARα/PPARγ coactivator‐1α pathway

“…Imbalances in hepatic lipid metabolism lead to the accumulation of hepatic TG and insulin resistance, finally causing diabetes (Perry et al ., ). The plasma lipid profile of nuciferine‐treated diabetic mice in our study showed similar trends to that seen with the HFD‐fed hamster model treated with nuciferine (Guo et al ., ). In addition, p.o.…”

“…Nuciferine (PubChem CID: 10146, Figure 1A), an aromatic ringcontaining alkaloid, isolated from the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera, has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating obesity, heliosis and bleeding (Ono et al, 2006;Wang et al, 2015;Sharma et al, 2017). It has also been shown to alleviate dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed hamsters (Guo et al, 2013). However, whether nuciferine ameliorates liver injury in diabetic conditions and the molecular mechanism(s) of such potential actions is unclear.…”

Nuciferine, extracted from Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn, inhibits tumor-promoting effect of nicotine involving Wnt/β-catenin signaling in non-small cell lung cancer

“…NF was also found to reduce the development of atherosclerosis via inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration (Ho et al, 2010). Moreover, many in vivo studies have demonstrated that NF displays beneficial effects on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, HIV, and melanoma (Guo et al, 2013;Kashiwada et al, 2005;Nakamura et al, 2013). However, it is still not clear whether NF, as a potential anti-cancer agent, may suppress tumor progression by directly affecting tumor cells.…”

Bacillus Subtilis-Fermented Red Bean (Red Bean Natto) Reduces Hyperlipidemia Levels in Hamsters Fed an Atherogenic Diet

“…Obesity‐associated fatty liver has been linked to tissue inflammation (Guo et al ., ). As expected, the healthy hamsters (Fig.…”

“…In contrast, RBNE supplementation significantly increased hepatic protein levels of PPAR-alpha. These results suggested that the beneficial effects of RBNE in the treatment of liver steatosis might be partly due to enhanced free fatty acid (FFA) oxidation and lipid export in the liver (Guo, 2013). It had been reported that many of the cardiovascular benefits of soybean may be related to isoflavones (Clarkson, 2002).…”