Saikosaponin D improves nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via gut microbiota-bile acid metabolism pathway

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the main cause of chronic liver disease worldwide.Bupleurum is widely used in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver,and saikosaponin D(SSD)is one of the main active components of Bupleurum.The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of SSD in the treatment of NAFLD and to explore the mechanism of SSD in the improvement of NAFLD based on“gut-liver axis”.Our results showed that SSD dose-dependently alleviated high fat diet-induced weight gain in mice,improved insulin sensitivity,and also reduced liver lipid accumulation and injury-related biomarkers aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT).Further exploration found that SSD inhibited the mRNA expression levels of farnesoid X receptor(Fxr),small heterodimer partner(Shp),recombinant fibroblast growth factor 15(Fgf15)and apical sodium dependent bile acid transporter(Asbt)in the intestine,suggesting that SSD improved liver lipid metabolism by inhibiting intestinal FXR signaling.SSD can significantly reduce the gut microbiota associated with bile salt hydrolase(BSH)expression,such as Clostridium.Decreased BSH expression reduced the ratio of unconjugated to conjugated bile acids,thereby inhibiting the intestinal FXR.These data demonstrated that SSD ameliorated NAFLD potentially through the gut microbiota-bile acidintestinal FXR pathway and suggested that SSD is a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of NAFLD.

Saikosaponin D inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis via C/EBPβ-p53 signal pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells

Objective To investigate the anticancer effects and detailed mechanisms of Saikosaponin D(SSD)in human hepatoma HepG2 cells.Methods Cell proliferation and apoptosis were tested by MTT assay and Annexin-V/PI assay respectively.The expressions of CCAAT enhancer binding protein β(C/EBPβ)and p53 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.Results SSD inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis at the concentration of 5.0 mg/L.SSD significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of C/EBPβ and p53 in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion SSD exerts its anticancer effect by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis partly through C/EBPβ-p53 signal pathway in HepG2 cells.

Evaluation on Quality and Utilization Value of Bupleurum falcatum Linne

[Objectives]This study aimed to evaluate the quality of Bupleurum falcatum Linne interplanted with walnut in Ganluo and study the development and utilization value of other parts.[Methods]The contents of saikosaponins a and d were determined with RP-HPLC,and the contents of 7 kinds of harmful elements were determined by ICP-MS.The quality of B.falcatum Linne was compared with that of other Bupleurum species.[Results]The total saikosaponin content in Radix Bupleurum Falcatum(15.894 mg/g)was higher than that in Radix Bupleuri of other origins(8.748 mg/g).The total saikosaponin content in leaves of B.falcatum Linne(7.518 mg/g)is more than twice the limit promulgated by Chinese Pharmacopoeia.The contents of Al,Cr,Cu,As,Cd,Pb and Hg in B.falcatum Linne were all lower than the limits promulgated by the pharmacopoeia.In short,the quality of Radix Bupleurum Falcatum was better than that of Radix Bupleurum Marginatum(S3,S4)and Radix Bupleurum Sachalinense(S5).The leaves of B.falcatum Linne contained more saikosaponins and less harmful elements.[Conclusions]The method and technology of interplanting B.falcatum Linne with walnut in Ganluo are mature.The quality of the medicinal materials produced is superior,and the leaves are also rich in saikosaponins a and d,and can be used as the raw material for extracting saikosaponins a and d.This study provides a basis for further in-depth research on the cultivation of B.falcatum Linne in the domestic market.