Combination of metformin and genistein alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in high -fat diet-fed mice

Metformin (MET) and genistein (GEN) have a beneficial role in alleviating non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but their combined effect on this disease has not yet been studied. The present study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of combined MET and GEN on NAFLD in high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice. C57BL/6 male mice were fed on an HFD for 10 weeks. Animals were then divided into different groups and treated with MET (0.23%), GEN (0.2%) and MET +GEN (0.23% + 0.2%) for 3 months. Treatment with MET and GEN, alone or in combination significantly lowered body and liver weights and fasting blood glucose (FBG) in HFD mice. Combination therapy reduced liver triglyceride (TG) level and this effect was correlated with increased expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1) gene, and reduced expression of fatty-acid synthase (FAS)and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) genes. Combination therapy also affects gluconeogenesis pathway through decreasing expression of Glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and increasing phosphorylation of Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3 beta). Furthermore, combination of MET and GEN ameliorates liver inflammation by switching macrophage into M2 phenotype, decreasing macrophage infiltration, reducing expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreasing nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappa B) activity. In addition, combination therapy enhances phosphorylation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Taken together, these findings suggest that the combination of MET and GEN have beneficial effects against NAFLD in HFD-fed model. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

The combination therapy of MET and GEN showed significant benefits against NAFLD in HFD-fed mice, reducing body weight, liver weight, fasting blood glucose levels, liver triglyceride levels, and inflammation while regulating key genes and pathways related to lipid metabolism, glucose production, and inflammation.