title: Extracts from Salvia-Nelumbinis naturalis alleviate hepatosteatosis via improving hepatic insulin sensitivity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Salvia-Nelumbinis naturalis (SNN), initially called Jiangzhi Granula as a formulae of Chinese medicinal decoction, has been used clinically to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and related syndromes. The mechanism of SNN action is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  HepG2 cells were cultured in lipid-rich media supplemented with chemical components of SNN. Male Wistar rats (6 weeks of age) were fed a high calorie diet (15% fat, 15% sucrose, and 2% cholesterol) for eight weeks, and then treated with SNN for four weeks. Body and liver weight, lipids profiles, insulin and glucose levels, glucose and insulin tolerance were evaluated, the mRNA and protein expression of insulin receptor (InsR), insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1/2, protein kinase B (PKB/Akt), protein expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3), protein kinase C epsilon (PKC ε) in liver tissue were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with SNN components in lipid-laden HepG2 cells decreased lipid accumulation. Rats fed with a HC diet developed hepatosteatosis and accompanied hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and diabetic dyslipidemia. Prolonged HC diet feeding resulted in parabolic response in plasma triglyceride (TG) concentrations, indicative of compromised hepatic production of TG-rich lipoproteins. HC diet feeding also resulted in impaired insulin sensitivity and hepatic insulin signalling. Administration of SNN extracts alleviated hepatosteatosis and conferred to a normolipoproteinemia profile in the HC diet-fed rats. The efficacy of SNN extract in improving liver function and insulin sensitivity was comparable to that of simvastatin or pioglitazone. The improved insulin signaling by SNN treatment was associated with increased IRS and Akt phosphorylation and decreased SOCS3 expression. However, SNN failed to inhibit the PKC ε expression in the liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SNN is effective in reducing lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and attenuating hepatosteatosis in HC diet-fed rats. Reduced hepatic lipid content in the rat liver was associated with improved insulin signalling.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiaoya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zemin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Digestive Disease, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. jiliver@vip.sina.com.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D027544:Salvia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C000597921:jiangzhi