Trans-anethole attenuates diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through suppressing TGF-β-mediated fibrosis

Caicai Zhang; Baoyong Zhang; Aifang Chen; Qiling Yin; Haixia Wang

doi:10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101833

Trans-anethole attenuates diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through suppressing TGF-β-mediated fibrosis

Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol. 2022 Apr;46(4):101833. doi: 10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101833. Epub 2021 Nov 14.

Authors

Caicai Zhang¹, Baoyong Zhang², Aifang Chen³, Qiling Yin¹, Haixia Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Disease Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Shandong First Medical University, No. 366 of Taishan Street, Taian 271000, Shandong, China.
² Anesthesiology Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Shandong First Medical University, No. 366 of Taishan Street, Taian 271000, Shandong, China.
³ Ultrasound Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Shandong First Medical University, No. 366 of Taishan Street, Taian 271000, Shandong, China.
⁴ Infectious Disease Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Shandong First Medical University, No. 366 of Taishan Street, Taian 271000, Shandong, China. Electronic address: wanghaixia@sdfmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 34785385
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2021.101833

Abstract

Background: Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most severe type of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and one of the most common chronic liver diseases, leading to the increased risk of liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Trans-anethole was reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities. However, its role in NASH remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of Trans-anethole on NASH.

Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed on a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks to induce NASH in mice, and on the meanwhile, mice were also orally administrated with or without 100 mg/kg Trans-anethole daily to evaluate the effect of Trans-anethole on NASH.

Results: Trans-anethole dose-dependently ameliorated liver injury in MCD diet-fed mice, then the most effective dose of Trans-anethole 100 mg/kg was chosen. Trans-anethole significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and hepatic fibrosis in MCD diet-induced NASH mice. Moreover, Trans-anethole reduced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro.

Conclusion: Trans-anethole effectively ameliorated NASH in MCD diet-fed mice, which suggested that Trans-anethole might serve as a therapeutic strategy for NASH.

Keywords: Fibrosis; Inflammation; NASH; Steatosis; TGF-β; Trans-anethole.

MeSH terms

Allylbenzene Derivatives* / therapeutic use
Animals
Anisoles* / therapeutic use
Choline
Diet / adverse effects
Liver / pathology
Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy
Liver Cirrhosis / prevention & control
Methionine
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / drug therapy
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease* / etiology
Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism

Substances

Allylbenzene Derivatives
Anisoles
Transforming Growth Factor beta
Methionine
Choline
anethole