Therapeutic effect and mechanism of Erhuang quzhi granules on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

Erhuang quzhi compounds is one of the protecting liver and inhibiting toxin prescriptions series summarized by Jinqi Yuan and other famous doctors of traditional Chinese medicine during the long-term clinical practice. It is very effective for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but its mechanism is not clear. This research investigated mechanism of Erhuang quzhi granules (EQG) in the treatment of NAFLD. All the animal welfare and experimental procedures are in accordance with the regulations of the Animal Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University. Mouse models of NAFLD were established by feeding with methionine and choline deficient diet (MCDD) for five weeks. While feeding MCDD, the treatment groups were given EQG (16.25 g·kg-1·d-1) and atorvastatin (ATO, 7.20 mg·kg-1·d-1) by gavage. The effects of EQG on serum biochemical indices, liver pathological changes, and inflammatory cytokines in mice of NAFLD were investigated. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), immunocytochemistry (ICH) and Western blot assays were used to detect the levels of mRNA and protein associated with nuclear factor kappa B/Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NF-κB/NLRP3) in liver. The results showed that EQG significantly reduced the levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and improved the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). The result of hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining showed that EQG reduced lipid deposition in livers of mice. Meanwhile, EQG notably decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and mRNA levels of NF-κB, NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α, down-regulated the expression of F4/80, IκB kinase β (IKKβ), NLRP3 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC) and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-1 (caspase-1). These findings announced that EQG could improve NAFLD via NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway possibly, which provides a theoretical basis for the further development and utilization of EQG in clinic.