Hydro alcoholic Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract mitigates NAFLD through restoration of gut barrier, oxidative Balance, and microbiome homeostasis
This study evaluates the effects of hydro-alcoholic root extract of G. glabra on gut barrier integrity, liver health, and metabolic parameters in both in vitro and in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in C57BL6 mice. The methodologies followed for Caco-2 cell assays were transepithelial electrical resistance, dextran permeability, cytotoxicity, ROS scavenging, immunoblotting of cell junction and inflammatory markers, along with mitochondrial potential analysis and confocal imaging in CC1 hepatocytes. In in vivo experiments, C57BL6 mice were treated with G. glabra at doses 75, 150, and 300 mg per kg bodyweight alongside a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, after which metabolic profiling, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test , serum lipid analysis, histopathology, and gene expression of metabolic regulators were performed. 16S rDNA sequencing was done for fecal metagenomic DNA to assess gut microbiome changes, and untargeted GC-MS metabolomic analysis to determine shifts in gut metabolite profiles. GGRE demonstrated protective effects on intestinal epithelial integrity, antioxidant capacity, liver histology, and lipid metabolism. GGRE treatment may have reprogrammed the gut landscape as indicated by enhanced abundance beneficial gut bacteria such as Akkermansia and positive shift in the gut metabolite profile. These findings support GGRE as a promising candidate for alleviating gut and hepatic dysfunction associated with high-fat diet intake.
This study evaluates the effects of hydro-alcoholic root extract of G. glabra on gut barrier integrity, liver health, and metabolic parameters in both in vitro and in high-fat diet-induced NAFLD in C57BL6 mice. The methodologies followed for Caco-2 cell assays were transepithelial electrical resistance, dextran permeability, cytotoxicity, ROS scavenging, immunoblotting of cell junction and inflammatory markers, along with mitochondrial potential analysis and confocal imaging in CC1 hepatocytes. In in vivo experiments, C57BL6 mice were treated with G. glabra at doses 75, 150, and 300 mg per kg bodyweight alongside a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, after which metabolic profiling, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance test , serum lipid analysis, histopathology, and gene expression of metabolic regulators were performed. 16S rDNA sequencing was done for fecal metagenomic DNA to assess gut microbiome changes, and untargeted GC-MS metabolomic analysis to determine shifts in gut metabolite profiles. GGRE demonstrated protective effects on intestinal epithelial integrity, antioxidant capacity, liver histology, and lipid metabolism. GGRE treatment may have reprogrammed the gut landscape as indicated by enhanced abundance beneficial gut bacteria such as Akkermansia and positive shift in the gut metabolite profile. These findings support GGRE as a promising candidate for alleviating gut and hepatic dysfunction associated with high-fat diet intake.
Indian Biological Data Centre