Search for functional ingredients and foods altering cholesterol-bile acid metabolism for prevention of NASH development

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K17883
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Eating habits; Applied health science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokushima
• Principal Investigator: SHIMIZU Mayuko 徳島大学, 大学院医歯薬学研究部(医学域), 助教 (20759021)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 非アルコール性脂肪肝炎 / NASH / コレステロール / マクロファージ / 肝線維化 / 肝線維化モデル動物 / オウバク / ベルベリン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We investigated the preventive effect of Phellodendron bark (PB) and its component berberine against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). To test this, mice were fed a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFC) diet which was containing 5% PB or 0.06% berberine powder. Histological steatohepatitis including steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis (stage 1 or 2) were seen in mice fed the HFC diet. Administration of PB and berberine attenuated steatosis and lobular inflammation with decreasing cholesterol content in the liver. Histologically, Mac-2 positive-stained multinuclear giant cells, that is macrophages, were frequently observed in the HFC-diet fed mice, but they were rarely seen in the berberine-fed mice. Liver fibrosis, which is an advanced condition of NASH, was significantly suppressed in the berberine-fed mice. It was suggested that berberine may suppress hepatic inflammation and fibrosis through its action on macrophages during NASH development.

Free Research Field

栄養病理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究ではオウバクおよびその主成分ベルベリンの摂取がNASHおよび肝線維化の程度を抑制する可能性とその作用機序の一端を示した。NASHやその進展病態である肝線維化に対する特効薬は未だ開発途上であるが、本研究の成果はNASHおよび肝線維化の食事療法や治療薬の開発の基礎的なエビデンスになると考えられる。