Mechanism of Coix Seed Extract in Improving Free Fatty Acid Metabolism in Rats with Fatty Liver / 中国药师

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the effect of coix seed extract on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and discuss the mechanism of coix seed extract in the treatment of NAFLD in the repect of free fatty acid. Methods:Totally 60 SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 10 ones in each, the normal group, the model group, the positive group ( Xuezhikang capsules, 1 g · kg-1), three coix seed extract groups respectively at high (20 g·kg-1), medium (10 g·kg-1) and low (5 g·kg-1) dosage. The normal group was given basic diet, the other 5 groups were given high fat diet to establish NAFLD rat model, the modeling time was 8 weeks, and the drug treatment started from the 5th week till the 8th week. The liver weight and fat weight and index were observed after the drug intervention. The serum total cholesterol (TC), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), free fatty acid (FFA), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCa-se), C two acyl coenzyme A (MALONYL-CoA) , adenosine content of protein kinase ( AMPK) and adiponectin ( ADP) activated by glycosides were detected. Results: Com-pared with those in the normal group, the lipid metabolism related indices in the model group were significantly abnormal (P<0. 05), which suggested that the model was established successfully. After the drug intervention, the lipid metabolism related indicators in the positive group and the three drug groups were adjusted in varying degrees. Compared with those in the model group, TC, FFA and AMPK expression levels increased notably in the high dosage group and the positive group (P<0. 05), and the levels of ALT, AST, FAS, ACCa-se, MALONYL-CoA decreased at the same time (P<0. 05). Coix seed extract could decrease the body weight and liver wet weight in NAFLD rats and improve the related index significantly. Conclusion: The findings indicated that coix seed extract is highly effective in improving the pharmacological effect on NAFLD induced by high-fat diet, and the mechanism is achieved through ADP-AMPK-ACCase-malony-CoA-FFA axis.