探討紅麴二次代謝產物 monascin 和 ankaflavin對非酒精性脂肪肝之調控

Abstract

After the control of hepatitis viruses and westernization of the lifestyle in Taiwan, an increasing burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is anticipated and active prophylactic measures should be implemented. NAFLD is a clinicopathological term that encompasses a spectrum of abnormalities ranging from simple triglyceride accumulation in the hepatocytes to hepatic steatosis with inflammation, also known as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH can also progress to hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, there are many types of medicines that are introduced to improve NAFLD, but none of them are specific for preventing or treating NAFLD in full aspects. The hypolipidemic and anti-inflammation effects of monascin (MS) and ankaflavin (AK) may indicate that they have potential to prevent or treat NAFLD. In the present study, we examined the oleic acid-induced steatosis effect in FL83B cell line treated with MS and AK. In vivo, the mice were fed with high-fat diet for NAFLD induction. Results showed that MS and AK reduced the steatosis effect in vitro and in vivo, and both in preventive and therapeutic models. Moreover, we discovered for the first time that the hypolipidemic effect of MS and AK may be achieved by sterol regulatory element binding protein and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha-related lipogenesis and fatty-acid oxidation pathways. Furthermore, MS and AK reduce the inflammatory cytokines in the liver tissue, which indicates that the metabolites may improve NAFLD by their hypolipidemic and anti-inflammation effects.