A frequent chronic liver condition across the world is
nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (
NAFLD). Oxidative stress caused by
lipid accumulation is generally considered to be the main cause of
NAFLD.
Anthocyanins can effectively inhibit the production of
reactive oxygen species and improve oxidative stress. In this work, six major
anthocyanins were separated from purple corncob by semi-preparative liquid chromatography. The effects of the 6 kinds of
anthocyanins against
NAFLD were investigated using a
free fatty acid (FFA)-induced cell model. The results showed that
peonidin 3-O-glucoside (P3G) can significantly reduce
lipid accumulation in the
NAFLD cell model. The treatment with P3G also inhibited oxidative stress via inhibiting the excessive production of
reactive oxygen species and
superoxide anion, increasing
glutathione levels, and enhancing the activities of SOD, GPX, and CAT. Further studies unveiled that treatment with P3G not only alleviated
inflammation but also improved the depletion of mitochondrial content and damage of the mitochondrial electron transfer chain developed concomitantly in the cell model. P3G upregulated
transcription factor EB (TFEB)-mediated lysosomal function and activated the
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARĪ±)-mediated peroxisomal
lipid oxidation by interacting with PPARĪ± possibly. Overall, this study added to our understanding of the protective effects of purple corn
anthocyanins against
NAFLD and offered suggestions for developing functional foods containing these
anthocyanins.