Hepatoprotective effect of Mugwort on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K07335
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 52010:General internal medicine-related
• Research Institution: Hokkaido University
• Principal Investigator: YI MIN 北海道大学, 医学研究院, 助教 (40292007)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: Artemisia princeps P. / NAFLD / アポトーシス / 酸化ストレス / ERストレス / 肝細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The hepatocyte lipoapoptosis induced by saturated fatty acids is strongly conducive for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) development. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of Artemisia princeps Pampanini (APP), a traditional Chinese medicine, on palmitic acid (PA)-induced lipoapoptosis by using a cellular NAFLD model.
It was observed that treatment with the low concentrations of APP attenuated the severity of PA-induced lipoapoptosis in mouse hepatocyte cells along with the reduced production of oxidative stress and ER stress. However, the high concentrations of APP led to a marked increase in the hepatocyte lipoapoptosis, which were accompanied by a augmentation in ER stress. Overall, APP at low concentrations exerts a protective effect on hepatocytes against lipoapoptosis, whereas it could injury these cells at high concentrations.

Free Research Field

肝臓学、内科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

NAFLDは極めて注目度の高い疾患となっている一方、有効な治療法は未だに確立されていない。本研究で得られた成果はNAFLDの予防薬・治療薬としてヨモギの可能性を示し、ヒトの病態へfeed backすることによりNAFLDの薬物療法の開発に繋がることが期待される。また、NAFLDをはじめ、メタボリック症候群の予防・治療における伝統医薬の有効利用に科学的なエビデンスを提供したことは社会的な意義が大きい。