Cui-Zhu Zhao1, Wei Jiang1, Yu-Ye Zhu1, Chong-Zhi Wang2, Wei-Hong Zhong1, Guang Wu1, Jie Chen1, Mei-Ning Zhu1, Qi-Lin Wu3, Xiao-Lang Du1, Ying-Ying Luo4, Min Li1, Hong-Ling Wang1, Hui Zhao5, Qin-Ge Ma6, Guo-Yue Zhong7, Rong-Rui Wei8. 1. Research Center of Natural Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Ethnic Medicine & Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of Chinese Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, PR China. 2. Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, United States; Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, The University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, United States. 3. Tibet Yuewang Medicine Diagnosis Ecological Tibetan Medicine Technology Co., Ltd., Lhasa, 850000, PR China. 4. State Key Laboratory of Innovative Drugs and High Efficiency Energy Saving and Consumption Reduction Pharmaceutical Equipment & National Engineering Center for Manufacturing Technology of Solid Preparation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, PR China. 5. Tibet Yuewang Medicine Diagnosis Ecological Tibetan Medicine Technology Co., Ltd., Lhasa, 850000, PR China; National United Engineering Research Center for Tibetan Plateau Microbiology, Lhasa, 850000, PR China. 6. Research Center of Natural Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Ethnic Medicine & Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of Chinese Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, PR China; Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, United States; Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, The University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, United States. Electronic address: maqinge2006@163.com. 7. Research Center of Natural Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Ethnic Medicine & Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of Chinese Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, PR China. Electronic address: zgy1037@163.com. 8. Research Center of Natural Resources of Chinese Medicinal Materials and Ethnic Medicine & Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of Chinese Medicine of Ministry of Education, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, PR China. Electronic address: weirongrui2011@163.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatocyte lipid accumulation is the main feature in the early stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Highland barley Monascus purpureus Went (HBMPW), a fermentation product of Hordeum vulgare Linn. var. nudum Hook. f. has traditionally been used as fermented foods in Tibet with the effect of reducing blood lipid in folk medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the protective effects and molecular mechanism of highland barley Monascus purpureus Went extract (HBMPWE) on NAFLD in syrian golden hamster fed with high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet (HFFCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HFFCD-induced NAFLD golden hamster model was established and treated with HBMPWE. Liver index, biochemical index, and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were observed. Liver metabolomics and western blot analysis were employed. RESULTS: Our study found that HBMPWE ameliorated HFFCD induced dyslipidemia, weight gain and elevated the liver index. In addition, HBMPWE treatment significantly attenuated lipid accumulation in the liver and modulated lipid metabolism (sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid). Our data demonstrated that HBMPWE not only regulated the expression of proteins related to fatty acid synthesis and decomposition (SREBP-1/ACC/FAS/AceS1, PPARα/ACSL/CPT1/ACOX1), but also regulated the expression of proteins related to cholesterol synthesis and clearance (HMGCR, LDLR, CYP7A1). CONCLUSIONS: HBMPWE improved NAFLD through multiple pathways and multiple targets in body metabolism and could be used as a functional food to treat NAFLD and other lipid metabolic disorders.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hepatocyte lipid accumulation is the main feature in the early stage of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Highland barley Monascus purpureus Went (HBMPW), a fermentation product of Hordeum vulgare Linn. var. nudum Hook. f. has traditionally been used as fermented foods in Tibet with the effect of reducing blood lipid in folk medicine. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the protective effects and molecular mechanism of highland barley Monascus purpureus Went extract (HBMPWE) on NAFLD in syrian golden hamster fed with high-fat, high-fructose, high-cholesterol diet (HFFCD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: HFFCD-induced NAFLD golden hamster model was established and treated with HBMPWE. Liver index, biochemical index, and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were observed. Liver metabolomics and western blot analysis were employed. RESULTS: Our study found that HBMPWE ameliorated HFFCD induced dyslipidemia, weight gain and elevated the liver index. In addition, HBMPWE treatment significantly attenuated lipid accumulation in the liver and modulated lipid metabolism (sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid). Our data demonstrated that HBMPWE not only regulated the expression of proteins related to fatty acid synthesis and decomposition (SREBP-1/ACC/FAS/AceS1, PPARα/ACSL/CPT1/ACOX1), but also regulated the expression of proteins related to cholesterol synthesis and clearance (HMGCR, LDLR, CYP7A1). CONCLUSIONS: HBMPWE improved NAFLD through multiple pathways and multiple targets in body metabolism and could be used as a functional food to treat NAFLD and other lipid metabolic disorders.