Esculeogenin A, a Glycan from Tomato, Alleviates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats through Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

• Published in: Nutrients 2023-11, Vol.15 (22), p.4755
• Main Authors: Al Jadani, Jwharah M, Albadr, Nawal A, Alshammari, Ghedeir M, Almasri, Soheir A, Alfayez, Farah Fayez, Yahya, Mohammed Abdo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Anti-inflammatory drugs; Antioxidants; Body fat; Carbohydrates; Cholesterol; Cytokines; Dextrose; Enzymes; esculeogenin A; Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; Fatty acids; Flavonoids; Fruits; Glucose; high-fat diet; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation; Insulin; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Liver diseases; Low density lipoproteins; Metabolism; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Obesity; Oxidative stress; Proteins; RNA; steatosis; Superoxide; Tomatoes; Transcription factors; Triglycerides; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF; Weight control
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu15224755

This study examined the preventative effects of esculeogenin A (ESGA), a newly discovered glycan from tomato, on liver damage and hepatic steatosis in high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed male rats. The animals were divided into six groups (each of eight rats): a control group fed a normal diet, control + ESGA (200 mg/kg), HFD, and HFD + ESAG in 3 doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Feeding and treatments were conducted for 12 weeks. Treatment with ESGA did not affect gains in the body or fat weight nor increases in fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR or serum levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), tumor-necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). On the contrary, it significantly reduced the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total triglycerides (TGs), cholesterol (CHOL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the HFD-fed rats. In addition, it improved the liver structure, attenuating the increase in fat vacuoles; reduced levels of TGs and CHOL, and the mRNA levels of SREBP1 and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC); and upregulated the mRNA levels of proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) in HFD-fed rats. These effects were concomitant with increases in the mRNA, cytoplasmic, and nuclear levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO); a reduction in the nuclear activity of nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB); and inhibition of the activity of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ). All of these effects were dose-dependent effects in which a normal liver structure and normal levels of all measured parameters were seen in HFD + ESGA (200 mg/kg)-treated rats. In conclusion, ESGA prevents NAFLD in HFD-fed rats by attenuating hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation by acting locally on Nrf2, NF-κB, SREBP1, and PPARα transcription factors.