Yo jyo hen shi ko, a novel Chinese herbal, prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in ob/ob mice fed a high fat or methionine-choline-deficient diet.
BACKGROUND
Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Yo jyo hen shi ko (YHK) is a complex compound purported to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by blocking the propagation of radical-induced reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the effect of YHK in experimental NASH.


METHODS
NASH was induced in male ob/ob mice by a high-fat (HF) diet or methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks. YHK-treated animals received YHK solution orally (20 mg/kg/day) in both experimental diets (n=6; each group) while control animals received only vehicle.


RESULTS
The MCD and HF groups developed moderate diffuse macrosteatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate. With the addition of YHK, there was a marked reduction in macrosteatosis in both groups. This was associated with decreased lipoperoxide and reduced glutathione-GSH concentrations as well as reduced serum aminotransferases and improved histological markers of inflammation. These changes were also associated with weight loss in the MCD+YHK group and diminished weight gain in the HF+YHK group.


CONCLUSIONS
YHK therapy blunts the development of macrosteatosis in these models of NASH and significantly reduces markers of oxidative stress. YHK also diminishes weight gain in this obesity prone model. Our findings warrant further study on the mechanisms involved with these effects.
de Lima
Vicência Mara Rodrigues
VM
Department of Gastroenterology (LIM 07), University of São Paulo School of Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil.
de Oliveira
Claudia Pinto Marques Souza
CP
Sawada
Letícia Yumi
LY
Barbeiro
Hermes Vieira
HV
de Mello
Evandro Sobroza
ES
Soriano
Francisco Garcia
FG
Alves
Venâncio Avancini Ferreira
VA
Caldwell
Stephen H
SH
Carrilho
Flair José
FJ
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D002796:Choline Deficiency / Q000209:etiology; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000172:deficiency*; D051379:Mice; D008820:Mice, Obese; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D008055:Lipids; D008715:Methionine; D000637:Transaminases