The alleviating effect of Scutellaria amoena extract on the regulation of gut microbiota and its metabolites in NASH rats by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis

Background: Scutellaria amoena (SA) is the root of S. amoena C.H. Wright of Labiatae, also known as Scutellaria southwestern. This is mainly distributed in Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China. In southwest China, SA is used as an alternative method to genuine medicine for the treatment of allergy, diarrhea, inflammation, hepatitis, and bronchitis. Thus far, studies on the effects of SA on non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are lacking. This paper investigated the effect of SA on the regulation of gut microbiota and its metabolites in NASH rats by inhibiting the NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3)/apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC)/caspase-1 axis. Methods: A NASH rat model was induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks, and rats were orally given different doses of SA extracts (150 and 300 mg/kg/d) for 6 weeks. Changes in histological parameters, body weight, organ indexes, cytokines, and biochemical parameters related to NLRP3 in NASH rats were checked. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and UPLC-MS/MS technology were used to analyze the changes in the gut microbiota composition and its metabolites in NASH rats. Results: SA significantly inhibited the HFD-induced increase in body weight, lipid levels, and inflammatory infiltration. SA notably inhibited the HFD-induced increase in the upper and lower factors of NLRP3, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-18, pro-IL-18, IL-1β, pro-IL-1β, NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1. Additionally, mRNA expressions of caspase-1, NLRP3, and ASC were significantly downregulated after SA treatment. The results of the intestinal flora showed that SA could increase the diversity of flora and change its structure and composition in NASH rats by reducing Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, Blautia (genus), Lachospiraceae (family), and Christensenellaceae R-7 group (genus), and increasing Muribaculaceae (family) and Bacteroides (genus). The metabolomics revealed that 24 metabolites were possibly the key metabolites for SA to regulate the metabolic balance of NASH rats, including chenodeoxycholic acid, xanthine, and 9-OxoODE. Nine metabolic pathways were identified, including primary bile acid biosynthesis, bile secretion, purine metabolism, and secondary bile acid biosynthesis. Conclusion: SA can regulate the intestinal microbial balance and metabolic disorder by inhibiting the NLRP3/ASC/caspase-1 axis to relieve NASH.

Effects of Tylophora yunnanensis Schltr on regulating the gut microbiota and its metabolites in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis rats by inhibiting the activation of NOD-like receptor protein 3

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tylophora yunnanensis Schltr (TYS) is widely distributed in Yunnan, Guizhou, and other places in China. It is commonly used by folks to treat hepatitis and other liver-related diseases; however, its mechanism of action is still unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to determine the effects of TYS on regulating gut microbiota and its metabolites in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) rats by inhibiting the activation of NOD-like receptor protein3 (NLRP3).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

An HFD-induced rat model was established to investigate if the intragastric administration of TYS could mediate gut microbiota and their metabolites to ultimately improve the symptoms of NASH. The improving effects of TYS on NASH rats were assessed by measuring their body weight, lipid levels, histopathology, and inflammatory factor levels in the rat models. The regulatory effects of TYS on NLRP3 in the NASH rats were analyzed using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which determined the levels of NLRP3-related factors. The changes in the composition of the gut microbiota of NASH rats were analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. Meanwhile, the Ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was used for the non-targeted analysis of metabolites in the cecum contents.

RESULTS

The results showed that TYS could improve NASH by decreasing the body weight and levels of lipid, AST, ALT, LPS, FFA, VLDL, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, TGF-β, NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in the NASH rats. The analysis of gut microbiota showed that TYS could improve the diversity and abundance of gut microbiota and alter their composition by decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio and relative abundances of Lachnospiraceae, Christensenellaceae, Blautia, etc. while increasing those of Muribaculaceae, Rumiaococcus, Ruminococcaceae, etc. The analysis of metabolites in the cecum contents suggested that the arachidonic acid metabolism, bile secretion, serotonergic synapse, Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway, etc. were regulated by TYS. The metabolites enriched in these pathways mainly included chenodeoxycholic acid, prostaglandin D2, TXB2, 9-OxoODE, and 13(S)-HOTrE.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggested that TYS could alleviate the NASH symptoms by decreasing the body weight, regulating the lipid levels, reducing the inflammatory response, and inhibiting the expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1 in the NASH rats. The changes in the composition of gut microbiota and their metabolic disorder were closely related to the activation of NLRP3. TYS could significantly inhibit the activation of NLRP3 and regulate the composition of gut microbiota and the disorder of metabolites during NASH modeling.

Flavonoids from Scutellaria amoena C. H. Wright alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction and regulate oxidative stress via Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis in rats with high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

BACKGROUND

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is among the most common liver diseases in the world. Flavonoids from Scutellaria amoena (SAF) are used in the treatment of hepatopathy in China. However, the effect and mechanism against NASH remain unclear. We investigated the alleviating effect of SAF on NASH via regulating mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

METHODS

The effects of SAF on NASH were evaluated using in vitro and in vivo methods. L02 cells were induced by fat emulsion to establish an adipocytes model, followed by treatment with SAF for 24 h. NASH rat models were established by the administration of a high-fat diet for 12 weeks and were administered SAF for six weeks. Changes in body weight, organ indexes, lipid levels, inflammatory cytokines, mitochondrial indicators, and fatty acid metabolism were investigated.

RESULTS

SAF significantly improved body weight, organ indexes, lipid levels, liver injury, and inflammatory infiltration in NASH rats. SAF notably regulated interleukin-6, tumor necrotic factor-alpha, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Additionally, SAF improved mitochondrial dysfunction, increased the levels of GSH, SOD, ATP synthase, complex I and II, and decreased the level of MDA in liver mitochondria. SAF regulated the expression of β-oxidation genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor -gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α), carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT1) A, CPT1B, medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, very long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and PPARα.

CONCLUSION

SAF can alleviate NASH by regulating mitochondrial function and oxidative stress via the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis.

[Establishment of nutrition literacy core items for Chinese preschool children]

Objective: To establish the nutrition literacy core items for preschool children in China. Methods: The framework system and preliminary items of nutrition literacy were established through literature review and experts consultation. E-Delphi method was used to determine the nutrition literacy items. Nine experts in the field of nutrition, child and adolescent health, health education were invited to score the importance of each nutrition literacy item via Email. The judgment basis and familiarity of experts towards the items, active coefficient, authority coefficient and harmony coefficient were evaluated and analyzed to generate the final list of nutrition literacy items. Results: In the first round of E-Delphi consultation, the active coefficient and authority coefficient were 88.9%(8/9) and(0.88±0.07).The harmony coefficient was 0.350 (χ²=36.432, P=0.001). In the second round, the active coefficient and authority coefficient were 100% (9/9) and (0.89±0.11).The harmony coefficient was 0.347 (χ²=34.330, P<0.001). After qualitative and quantitative analyses, we identified the final list of nutrition literacy items consisting of two scales (basic knowledge, lifestyles and dietary behaviors), six subscales (food knowledge, food characteristic, food choice, dietary behavior, dietary safety, and physical activity)with 14 items in total. Conclusion: The framework system and core items of nutrition literacy are established for Chinese preschool children, which could provide a reference basis for the implementation of nutrition education project and the establishment of standardized evaluation tools.