Protective effects of maslinic acid on high fat diet-induced liver injury in mice

Aims: Due to the prevalence of high-fat diets and lack of exercise, diseases related to nutrient metabolism such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have become one of the reasons causes endangering human liver health. Maslinic acid (MA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid acid that is abundant in fruits such as hawthorn and jujube. In this study, we investigated the effect of MA on NAFLD to inform the development of dietary supplements for the treatment and prevention of NAFLD. Materials and methods: The NAFLD model was established by feeding mice a high-fat diet (HFD). HEPG2 cells were treated with oleic acid and used as a cell culture model. Testing kits, haematoxylin and eosin staining, oil red O staining, western blotting, and immunofluorescence were performed with in vivo and in vitro experiments. Key findings: The current study revealed that MA significantly reduced liver weight, body weight and serum lipid levels, and protected against liver steatosis and injury induced by a HFD. MA increased the expression of Beclin1, ATG1, and Bcl-2 mRNA and protein while decreasing the expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, caspase-3 and Bax mRNA and protein. Beclin1, and ATG1 were obviously increased, and the mRNA and protein expression of TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta were obviously reduced, the mRNA and protein expression of Caspase-3 and Bax were obviously reduced, and the mRNA and protein expression of Bax were obviously increased by MA. Significance: MA reduces the content of fat in the liver cells of NAFLD mice through lipophagy activitiy and reduces inflammation and apoptosis injury.

Automated summary

In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of maslinic acid (MA) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The results showed that MA significantly reduced liver weight, body weight and serum lipid levels, and protected against liver steatosis and injury induced by a high-fat diet. It also demonstrated that MA increased the expression of certain proteins related to autophagy and decreased the expression of proteins related to inflammation and apoptosis. This study highlights the potential of MA as a dietary supplement for the treatment and prevention of NAFLD.