RESUMO
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common liver disease in industrialized countries. The discovery of food components that would ameliorate NAFLD is therefore of interest. Lotus root, the edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera, contains a high level of polyphenolic compounds, and several health-promoting properties of lotus root have been reported. The present study examines whether dietary lotus root powder can protect db/db mice from hepatic injury. After 3 weeks of feeding, the hepatomegaly, hepatic triglyceride accumulation, and elevated hepatic injury markers in the serum were markedly alleviated in the Lotus diet-fed db/db mice relative to the control mice. These effects were partly attributable to suppression of the lipogenic enzyme activities and mRNA expression by the Lotus diet. The serum levels of adiponectin, which has been reported to have a protective effect against NAFLD, were significantly higher in the Lotus group than in the Control group of the db/db mice. Moreover, the hepatic expression of such inflammatory genes as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were markedly suppressed by the Lotus diet. We speculate that the development and progression of NAFLD were prevented by suppressing the expression of lipogenic and inflammatory genes as a result of the higher serum adioponectin level in the Lotus diet-fed db/db mice.
Assuntos
Complicações do Diabetes/prevenção & controle , Fígado Gorduroso/prevenção & controle , Nelumbo/química , Obesidade/complicações , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Rizoma/química , Adiponectina/sangue , Animais , Biomarcadores/metabolismo , Complicações do Diabetes/metabolismo , Complicações do Diabetes/patologia , Suplementos Nutricionais , Fígado Gorduroso/complicações , Fígado Gorduroso/metabolismo , Fígado Gorduroso/patologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos , Inflamação/genética , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Lipogênese/efeitos dos fármacos , Lipogênese/genética , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/enzimologia , Fígado/lesões , Fígado/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica , PósRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common liver disease of industrialized countries. Thus, discovering food components that can ameliorate NAFLD is of interest. Lotus root, the edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera, contains high levels of polyphenolic compounds, and several health-promoting properties of lotus root have been reported. In this study, we tested whether feeding a polyphenolic extract of lotus root to db/db mice protects them from hepatic steatosis. RESULTS: After 3 weeks of feeding, the hepatomegaly and hepatic triglyceride accumulation were markedly alleviated in the lotus polyphenol-diet-fed db/db mice relative to the control mice. Although the lipolytic enzyme activity was not changed, the activities of lipogenic enzymes, such as fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme, were significantly lower in the lotus polyphenol diet-fed db/db mice. Additionally, the ESI-IT/MS and MALDI-TOF MS spectra revealed the presence of B-type proanthocyanidin polymers with polymerization degree up to 9 in the polyphenolic lotus root extract. CONCLUSION: We speculate that the condensed tannins contained in lotus root can alleviate hepatic steatosis by suppressing the lipogenic enzyme activity in the livers of db/db mice.
Assuntos
Fígado Gorduroso/tratamento farmacológico , Nelumbo/química , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Raízes de Plantas/química , Polifenóis/uso terapêutico , Animais , Carnitina O-Palmitoiltransferase/metabolismo , Colesterol/sangue , Colesterol/metabolismo , Ácido Graxo Sintases/metabolismo , Fígado/efeitos dos fármacos , Fígado/metabolismo , Fígado/patologia , Malato Desidrogenase/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Obesos , Estrutura Molecular , Tamanho do Órgão , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/química , Polifenóis/química , Proantocianidinas/química , Triglicerídeos/sangue , Triglicerídeos/metabolismoRESUMO
Pyruvate is the key substance controlling the formation of diacetyl, acetaldehyde, and acetate during alcoholic fermentation. Here we report the breeding of a low pyruvate-producing sake yeast by isolation of a mutant resistant to ethyl alpha-transcyanocinnamate, an inhibitor of mitochondrial pyruvate transport. Mitochondrial function was involved in resistance to this substance and in the production of pyruvate by the mutants.
Assuntos
Mitocôndrias/metabolismo , Piruvatos/metabolismo , Ácido Pirúvico/metabolismo , Acetatos/metabolismo , Bebidas Alcoólicas , Intoxicação Alcoólica/genética , Intoxicação Alcoólica/metabolismo , Alcoólicos , Transporte Biológico/genética , Cruzamento , Fermentação/genética , Mitocôndrias/genética , Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genética , Leveduras/genéticaRESUMO
Marine microorganisms degrading porphyran (POR) were found on the surface of thalli of Porphyra yezoensis. Fifteen crude microorganism groups softened and liquefied the surface of agar-rich plate medium. Among these, 11 microorganism groups degraded porphyran that consisted of sulfated polysaccharide in Porphyra yezoensis. Following isolation, 7 POR-degradable microorganisms were isolated from the 11 POR-degradable microorganism groups.
