Fanlian Huazhuo Formula alleviates high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by modulating autophagy and lipid synthesis signaling pathway

BACKGROUND Fanlian Huazhuo Formula(FLHZF)has the functions of invigorating spleen and resolving phlegm,clearing heat and purging turbidity.It has been identified to have therapeutic effects on type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)in clinical application.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is frequently diagnosed in patients with T2DM.However,the therapeutic potential of FLHZF on NAFLD and the underlying mechanisms need further investigation.AIM To elucidate the effects of FLHZF on NAFLD and explore the underlying hepatoprotective mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.METHODS HepG2 cells were treated with free fatty acid for 24 hours to induce lipid accumulation cell model.Subsequently,experiments were conducted with the different concentrations of freeze-dried powder of FLHZF for 24 hours.C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 8-week to establish a mouse model of NAFLD,and then treated with the different concentrations of FLHZF for 10 weeks.RESULTS FLHZF had therapeutic potential against lipid accumulation and abnormal changes in biochemical indicators in vivo and in vitro.Further experiments verified that FLHZF alleviated abnormal lipid metabolism might by reducing oxidative stress,regulating the AMPKα/SREBP-1C signaling pathway,activating autophagy,and inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.CONCLUSION FLHZF alleviates abnormal lipid metabolism in NAFLD models by regulating reactive oxygen species,autophagy,apoptosis,and lipid synthesis signaling pathways,indicating its potential for clinical application in NAFLD.

Isolation and Chemotaxonomic Significance of Chemical Constituents from Rubus parvifolius

Objective To study the chemical constituents from the roots of Rubus parvifolius. Methods The chemical constituents were extracted and purified by silica gel column chromatography. NMR spectra were used for structural identification. Results Phytochemical study on the roots of R. parvifolius led to the isolation of one ceramide （1）, two anthraquinones （2 and 3）, four triterpenoids （4-7）, two flavonoids （8 and 9）, one fatty acid ester （10）, and two sterols （1 1 and 12）. Conclusion Compound 1 is isolated from the plants of family Rosaceae for the first time, and compounds 2-5 are isolated from genus Rubus for the first time. Though R. parvifolius shares the same major chemical types （triterpenoid, flavonoid, and anthraquinone） with those of R. alceaefolius, a substituent of R. parvifolius, their individual constituents are different. In addition, R. parvifolius contains ceramide （1） with high concentration, while caffeoylquinic acid reported in R. alceaefolius has not been found in R. parvifolius. Furthermore, the results from our phytochemical study are consistent with the DNA phylogenic relationship between R. parvifolius and R. alceaefolius （two separated subgenera）, suggesting that the substitution of the former species with the latter one in folk medicine might not be suitable.