CGplus, a standardized herbal composition ameliorates non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in a tunicamycin-induced mouse model.

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.

• Authors: Myong-Min Lee, Hyeong-Geug Kim, Sung-Bae Lee, Jin-Seok Lee, Won-Yong Kim, Seung-Hoon Choi, Sam-Keun Lee, Chang-Kyu Byun, Pung-Mi Hyun, Chang-Gue Son
• Journal: Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology (Phytomedicine) Vol. 41 Pg. 24-32 (Mar 01 2018) ISSN: 1618-095X [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 29519316 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal
• Protective Agents
• Triglycerides
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• Tunicamycin
• Aspartate Aminotransferases
• Alanine Transaminase

Topics

• Alanine Transaminase (blood)
• Animals
• Aspartate Aminotransferases (blood)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drugs, Chinese Herbal (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Lipid Metabolism (drug effects)
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Liver (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (chemically induced, drug therapy)
• Protective Agents (pharmacology)
• Triglycerides (metabolism)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)
• Tunicamycin (adverse effects)