Myong-Min Lee1, Hyeong-Geug Kim1, Sung-Bae Lee1, Jin-Seok Lee1, Won-Yong Kim1, Seung-Hoon Choi2, Sam-Keun Lee3, Chang-Kyu Byun3, Pung-Mi Hyun4, Chang-Gue Son5. 1. Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Medicine Consilience, Dankook University, 152, Jukjeon-ro, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 16890, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Applied Chemistry, Daejeon University, 62 Daehak-ro, Dong-gu, Daejeon 34520, Republic of Korea. 4. Chungnam National University Hospital Clinical Trials Center, 282 Munwha-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 35015, Republic of Korea. 5. Liver and Immunology Research Center, Oriental Medical College, Daejeon University, 176-9 Daeheung-ro, Jung-gu, Daejeon 34929, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ckson@dju.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has increased by 15-39% worldwide, but no pharmaceutical therapeutics exists. HYPOTHESIS/ PURPOSE: This study investigated anti-hepatosteatotic effect of CGplus (a standardized herbal composition of Artemisia iwayomogi, Amomum xanthioides, and Salvia miltiorrhiza) and its underlying mechanisms in a tunicamycin-induced NASH model. METHODS: C57/BL6J male mice were orally administrated CGplus (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg), dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB, 50 mg/kg) or distilled water daily for 5 days. 18 h after a single injection of tunicamycin (ip, 2 mg/kg), the parameters for hepatic steatosis and inflammation were measured. RESULTS: Pretreatment with CGplus significantly attenuated the accumulation of triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as lipid peroxidation, evidenced by quantitative and histopathological analyses in liver tissues. The elevations of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly ameliorated by CGplus. Also, it normalized the altered activities of pro- (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines and lipid metabolism-related molecules in protein and gene expression analyses. CONCLUSION: Our data present experimental evidence for the potential of CGplus as an herbal therapeutic against NAFLD and NASH. Its underlying mechanisms may involve the modulations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, but further study is required especially for the actions of CGplus on lipid metabolisms.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has increased by 15-39% worldwide, but no pharmaceutical therapeutics exists. HYPOTHESIS/ PURPOSE: This study investigated anti-hepatosteatotic effect of CGplus (a standardized herbal composition of Artemisia iwayomogi, Amomum xanthioides, and Salvia miltiorrhiza) and its underlying mechanisms in a tunicamycin-induced NASH model. METHODS: C57/BL6J male mice were orally administrated CGplus (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg), dimethyl dimethoxy biphenyl dicarboxylate (DDB, 50 mg/kg) or distilled water daily for 5 days. 18 h after a single injection of tunicamycin (ip, 2 mg/kg), the parameters for hepatic steatosis and inflammation were measured. RESULTS: Pretreatment with CGplus significantly attenuated the accumulation of triglycerides and total cholesterol as well as lipid peroxidation, evidenced by quantitative and histopathological analyses in liver tissues. The elevations of serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly ameliorated by CGplus. Also, it normalized the altered activities of pro- (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines and lipid metabolism-related molecules in protein and gene expression analyses. CONCLUSION: Our data present experimental evidence for the potential of CGplus as an herbal therapeutic against NAFLD and NASH. Its underlying mechanisms may involve the modulations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, but further study is required especially for the actions of CGplus on lipid metabolisms.