Anti-steatotic and anti-inflammatory effects of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. extracts in chronic alcohol-fed rats.

The anti-steatotic and anti-inflammatory effects of fruit water extract (FW) and seed ethanol extract (SE) of Hovenia dulcis Thunb. in chronic alcohol-fed rats were investigated. Rats were fed a liquid diet containing 36% calories from alcohol and orally administered FW or SE (300 and 500mg/kg/day). Both FW and SE reduced hepatic lipid contents and droplets, serum lipid concentration and inflammatory markers (hs-CRP, TNF-α and IL-6) levels compared with the alcohol control group. Alcohol led to significant decreases in the hepatic fatty acid oxidative gene (Ppargc1a, Cpt1a and Acsl1) levels, while it significantly increased the Myd88 and Tnfa gene levels. However, FW or SE supplementation significantly up-regulated gene expression of Ppargc1a, Ppara, Cpt1a and Acsl1, and down-regulated gene expression of Myd88, Tnfa and Crp compared with the alcohol control group. FW or SE supplementation also significantly decreased hepatic activities of fatty acid synthase and phosphatidate phosphohydrolase in chronic alcohol-fed rats. Plasma alcohol and acetaldehyde levels, hepatic enzyme activity and protein expression of CYP2E1 were lowered by FW or SE supplementation. These results indicate that both FW and SE play an important role in improvement of alcoholic hepatic steatosis and inflammation via regulation of lipid and inflammation metabolism.