title: Nuciferine prevents hepatic steatosis and injury induced by a high-fat diet in hamsters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nuciferine is a major active aporphine alkaloid from the leaves of N. nucifera Gaertn that possesses anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-hypotensive, anti-arrhythmic, and insulin secretagogue activities. However, it is currently unknown whether nuciferine can benefit hepatic lipid metabolism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the current study, male golden hamsters were randomly divided into four groups fed a normal diet, a high-fat diet (HFD), or a HFD supplemented with nuciferine (10 and 15 mg/kg·BW/day). After 8 weeks of intervention, HFD-induced increases in liver and visceral adipose tissue weight, dyslipidemia, liver steatosis, and mild necroinflammation in hamsters were analyzed. Nuciferine supplementation protected against HFD-induced changes, alleviated necroinflammation, and reversed serum markers of metabolic syndrome in hamsters fed a HFD. RT-PCR and western blot analyses revealed that hamsters fed a HFD had up-regulated levels of genes related to lipogenesis, increased free fatty acid infiltration, and down-regulated genes involved in lipolysis and very low density lipoprotein secretion. In addition, gene expression of cytochrome P4502E1 and tumor necrosis factor-α were also increased in the HFD group. Nuciferine supplementation clearly suppressed HFD-induced alterations in the expression of genes involved in lipid metabolism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nuciferine supplementation ameliorated HFD-induced dyslipidemia as well as liver steatosis and injury. The beneficial effects of nuciferine were associated with altered expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Fuchuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Xiaoxia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rennan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.forename: Yanwen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Changhao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001060:Aporphines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D001060:Aporphines; D004041:Dietary Fats; C008692:nuciferine