SCIENCE ALERT: A botanical dietary supplement from white peony and licorice: prevents nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in a mouse model by modulating gut microbiota and reducing inflammation (Phytomedicine)

Editor's Note

A botanical dietary supplement containing mainly white peony root and licorice, and also grape seeds and broccoli extracts (WLT), was investigated for a protective role against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development induced by a high-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFHS). NAFLD is an obesity-related metabolic disease that is highly associated with gut dysbiosis and inflammation. Researchers investigated the anti-NAFLD effects of WLT on a HFHS diet-induced NAFLD C57BL/6J mouse model by detecting the hepatic triglyceride (TG) level, performing histological examination of the liver tissue, and evaluating glucose tolerance and systemic inflammation. Authors also analyzed the impact of WLT on gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, followed by fecal microbiota transplantation. Results showed that WLT supplementation exerts auxiliary protection against NAFLD, and attenuated body weight gain, hepatic steatosis, glucose tolerance, and systemic inflammation in HFHS-fed mice. Moreover, WLT supplement altered the composition of gut microbiota, which contributed at least in part, to the anti-NAFLD effect. The researchers conclude WLT is protective against NAFLD formation induced by an HFHS diet, and its effect is associated with the modulation of gut microbiota and inflammation, highlighting the potential of WLT to reduce the risk of metabolic disorders as a functional dietary supplement.

October 2021

Phytomedicine

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153693

A botanical dietary supplement from white peony and licorice attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating gut microbiota and reducing inflammation

Abstract

Background

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an obesity-related metabolic disease that is highly associated with gut dysbiosis and inflammation. A botanical dietary supplement, mainly containing an herbal pair of white peony root and licorice as well as grape seeds and broccoli extracts (WLT), exerts auxiliary protection against chemical liver injury. However, it is unclear whether WLT protects against the development of NAFLD induced by a high energy diet.

Purpose

To investigate the protective role of WLT against NAFLD development induced by a high-fat and high-sucrose (HFHS) diet and its mechanism of action.

Methods

We investigated the anti-NAFLD effects of WLT on a HFHS diet-induced NAFLD C57BL/6J mouse model by detecting the hepatic triglyceride (TG) level, performing histological examination of the liver tissue, and evaluating glucose tolerance and systemic inflammation. Then, we analyzed the impact of WLT on gut microbiota by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, followed by fecal microbiota transplantation. Furthermore, we performed hepatic transcriptomic analysis of mice with or without WLT treatment using the RNA sequencing approach.

Results

Our results showed that WLT supplement attenuated body weight gain, hepatic steatosis, glucose tolerance, and systemic inflammation in HFHS-fed mice. Moreover, WLT supplement altered the composition of gut microbiota, which contributed at least in part, to the anti-NAFLD effect. Meanwhile, WLT improved the intestinal integrity and comprehensively modulated the expression of hepatic genes in HFHS mice, particularly reducing the expression of genes in the toll-like receptor-mediated inflammatory pathway.

Conclusion

WLT is protective against NAFLD formation induced by an HFHS diet, and its effect is associated with the modulation of gut microbiota and inflammation, highlighting the potential of WLT to reduce the risk of metabolic disorders as a functional dietary supplement.