Linarin Enriched Extract Attenuates Liver Injury and Inflammation Induced by High-Fat High-Cholesterol Diet in Rats

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to explore the potential beneficial effects of linarin enriched Flos Chrysanthemi extract (Lin-extract) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) induced by high-fat high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet in rats.

SD rats received normal diet, HFHC diet, or HFHC diet plus different doses of Lin-extract.

The liver content of triglyceride and total cholesterol markedly increased in HFHC diet-fed model rats while middle and high dose of Lin-extract lowered liver cholesterol significantly.

The expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) was upregulated by HFHC diet and further elevated by high dose Lin-extract.

High dose of Lin-extract also markedly lowered the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and inhibited the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) induced by HFHC in livers.

The HFHC-increased mRNA levels of hepatic inflammation cytokines, including monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1), were suppressed by Lin-extract dose-dependently.

Furthermore, pathology evaluation showed that high dose Lin-extract greatly improved lobular inflammation.

Our results suggest that Lin-extract could attenuate liver injury and inflammation induced by HFHC diet in rats.

Its modulatory effect on lipid metabolism may partially contribute to this protective effect.