Calculus bovis (CB, niu-huang) is a high-class therapeutic
drug that is often used in
traditional Chinese medicine. CB helps to eliminate heat and toxic components, and prevents the accumulation of phlegm and blood stasis in the liver. In Asian countries, CB Sativus (CBS), an ideal substitute for natural CB, is presently extensively used for long-term treatment of chronic
liver diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects and potential mechanism(s) of action of CBS on mice with
fructose-induced
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (
NAFLD). The
NAFLD model was established in C57BL/6 mice by exclusively feeding fluids containing 30%
fructose for 8 consecutive weeks. After these 8 weeks, mice were given CBS (50 mg/kg/day or 100 mg/kg/day) for 2 consecutive weeks. Treatment with CBS reversed the
fructose-induced
impaired glucose tolerance. Compared with the model group, in which mice received 8 weeks of high-
fructose diet and 2 weeks of 0.5%
sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, CBS treatment significantly decreased the levels of fasting serum
glucose, fasting
insulin,
triglyceride, and total
cholesterol, and increased levels of
high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. CBS treatment also significantly decreased the levels of
triglyceride, total
cholesterol, and
free fatty acid in the liver. The activity of
superoxide dismutase in the liver was increased
after treatment with CBS, however, levels of
malondialdehyde and
reactive oxygen species decreased. Histopathological examination showed that
liver steatosis and injury were significantly reduced in CBS-treated mice. The expression of
fatty acid synthase, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, Cysteinyl
aspartate-specific proteinase-3, and synonyms
B-cell leukemia/
lymphoma-2 gene-associated X
protein were downregulated
after treatment with CBS, whereas the expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 was upregulated. In conclusion, CBS treatment exerted
therapeutic effects in the liver of mice with
NAFLD, which may be associated with amelioration of metabolic disorders, enhanced
antioxidant effects, and alleviation of apoptosis.