Fagopyrum dibotrys extract alleviates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, and alters autophagy and gut microbiota diversity in mouse models of high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Dan Zhang; Yongfang Xu; Hang Chen; Da Wang; Zuotao Geng; Yuanli Chen; Yan Chen; Di Xiong; Rongna Yang; Xiaoting Liu; Yuke Zhang; Ping Xiang; Lanqing Ma; Jianjun Liu

doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.993501

Fagopyrum dibotrys extract alleviates hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance, and alters autophagy and gut microbiota diversity in mouse models of high-fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Front Nutr. 2022 Nov 14:9:993501. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.993501. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Dan Zhang^{1

2}, Yongfang Xu³, Hang Chen^{1

2}, Da Wang², Zuotao Geng⁴, Yuanli Chen⁵, Yan Chen¹, Di Xiong¹, Rongna Yang², Xiaoting Liu², Yuke Zhang², Ping Xiang⁶, Lanqing Ma², Jianjun Liu¹

Affiliations

¹ Yunnan Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
² The First Affiliated Hospital, Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Yunnan Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
³ The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming, China.
⁴ Lijiang Women and Children's Hospital, Lijiang Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Lijiang, China.
⁵ Faculty of Basic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
⁶ School of Ecology and Environment, Institute of Environmental Remediation and Human Health, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China.

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major global health concern with increasing prevalence, with a lack of currently available effective treatment options; thus, the investigation of novel therapeutic approaches is necessary. The study aimed to investigate the outcomes and mechanisms of action of Fagopyrum dibotrys extract (FDE) in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model of obesity. The findings showed that FDE supplementation attenuated glucose tolerance, insulin resistance (IR), hepatic steatosis, and abnormal lipid metabolism. In addition, FDE also promoted autophagic activity and inhibited the phosphorylation of transcription factor EB in HFD-fed mice. Furthermore, gut microbiota characterization via 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that the supplementation of FDE increased Bacteroidetes and Verrucomicrobia populations while decreased Firmicutes, thus modifying the gut microbiome. FDE also increased the relative abundance of Akkermansia. Our findings suggest that FDE may protect against HFD-induced NAFLD by activating autophagy and alleviating dysbiosis in the gut microbiome. FDE may be beneficial as a nutraceutical treatment for NAFLD.

Keywords: Fagopyrum dibotrys extract; autophagy; gut microbiota; insulin resistance; non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).