Effect of two andrographolide derivatives on cellular and rodent models of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The prevalence of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is increasing and there is an increasing interest in natural products to treat NAFLD. This study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of andrographolide and two of its derivatives; in one the OH group at C-14 was removed and in the other OH groups at C-3 and C-19 were protected. Andrographolide (AN) was isolated from the aerial parts of Andrographis paniculata Wall. Isoandrographolide (IAN) and 3,19-acetonylidene andrographolide (ANA) were derivatized from AN. Drug likeness of the compounds was studied using DataWarrior. The effect of the compounds in ameliorating hepatic steatosis and lipotoxicity was assessed using palmitate-oleate induced steatotic HepG2 cell lines. In vivo efficacy of the compounds was assessed by using HFD fed rats. IAN showed comparatively high drug score and low irritability than AN. MTT assay indicated that the treatment with IAN had comparatively less toxicity than AN and ANA to HepG2 cells. The treatment with IAN significantly reduced the lipid accumulation and the leakage of LDH and transaminases, while the treatments with AN and ANA did not prohibit the leakage. In the in vivo experiment, the treatment with IAN showed comparatively better hepatoprotection by reducing the serum lipid, transaminases and ALP levels than with AN and ANA. Our results showed that IAN could be a promising lead to treat NAFLD with comparatively low toxicity and improved efficacy.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Tricholoma giganteum (Agaricomycetes) in a Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rat Model.

Different concentrations of standardized ethanolic extract from the basidiocarps of Tricholoma giganteum Massee (TgEtOH) were screened for hepatoprotective effects in an animal model of rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fed a high-fat and high-fructose diet. After 4 weeks of treatment with TgEtOH, the relative liver weights, serum lipid concentrations, and biochemical profiles were found to be normal in treated animals compared with those given a standard drug. The macroscopic and histopathological studies clearly indicated that 200 mg/kg of ethanolic extract was effective in ameliorating the abnormalities of NAFLD. The findings indicate the efficacy of T. giganteum extract in liver protection. Future experiments on bioassay tailored fractionation of TgEtOH and mechanistic-based evaluation are required to assess the potential application of this mushroom as a food supplement in NAFLD.

Lipolytic and antiadipogenic effects of (3,3-dimethylallyl) halfordinol on 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high fat and fructose diet induced obese C57/BL6J mice.

Aegle marmelos Correa., (Rutaceae) is a medium sized tree distributed in South East Asia and used traditionally for the management of obestiy and diabetes. In this study the lipolytic and antiadipogenic effects of (3,3-dimethylallyl) halfordinol (Hfn) isolated from leaves of A. marmelos have been investigated. Intracellular lipid accumulation was measured by oil red O staining and glycerol secretion. The expression of genes related to adipocyte differentiation was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Hfn decreased intracellular triglyceride accumulation and increased glycerol release in a dose dependent manner (5-20 µg/ml) in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In high fat diet fed C57/BL 6J mice, treatment with Hfn for four weeks reduced plasma glucose, insulin and triglyceride levels and showed a significant reduction in total adipose tissue mass by 37.85% and visceral adipose tissue mass by 62.99% at 50mg/kg b.w. concentration. RT-PCR analyses indicated that Hfn decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT enhancer binding protein α (CEBPα) and increased the expression of sterol regulatory enzyme binding protein (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), Adiponectin and Glucose transporter protein 4 (GLUT4) compared to the high fat diet group. These results suggested that Hfn decreased adipocyte differentiation and stimulated lipolysis of adipocytes. This study justifies the folklore medicinal uses and claims about the therapeutic values of this plant for the management of insulin resistance and obesity.