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Gypenosides extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino have significant role in reducing serum lipid level and treating fatty liver diseases, however, without clear mechanism. As gypenosides share the similar core structures with bile acids (the endogenous ligands of nuclear receptor FXR), we hypothesize that gypenosides may improve hypercholesterolemia via FXR-mediated bile acids signaling. The present study was designed to validate the role of gypenosides in reducing levels of serum total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), as well as in regulating bile acids homeostasis and related gene expression levels. The C57BL/6 male mice were divided into four groups. Mice in groups ND and HFD were fed with normal diet and high fat diet for 38 weeks, respectively. In groups HFD+GP and HFD+ST, mice were fed with high fat diet for 38 weeks and treated with gypenosides and simvastatin (positive control) from weeks 16 to 38, respectively. Serum TC and LDL-C levels were assayed by commercially available kits. Expression levels of genes were tested by the quantitative real-time PCR. The LC-MS/MS was applied to quantify major bile acids in mice livers. Our results showed that gypenosides significantly decreased serum TC and LDL-C levels. The gene expression level of Shp was downregulated while the levels of Cyp7a1, Cyp8b1, Fxr, Lrh1, Jnk1/2, and Erk1/2 were upregulated by gypenosides. Indicated by LC-MS/MS technology, gypenosides increased the hepatic levels of several free bile acids and most taurine-conjugated bile acids while decreasing glycine-conjugated bile acids levels. In addition, gypenosides decreased the CA/CDCA ratio. Gypenosides may improve the abnormal lipid profile of HFD-fed mice via two pathways: (1) enhancing the bile acids biosynthesis from cholesterol; (2) decreasing the CA/CDCA ratio which is positively related to cholesterol absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (DNL) is a traditional Chinese ethnobotanical herb. Dendrobine (DNE) has been designated as a quality indicator for DNL in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. DNE exhibits various pharmacological activities, including the reduction of blood lipids, regulation of blood sugar levels, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of DNE on lipid degeneration in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) liver cells and elucidate its specific mechanism. The findings aim to offer theoretical support for the development of drugs related to DNL. We utilized male C57BL/6J mice, aged 6 weeks old, to establish a NAFLD model. This model allowed us to assess the impact of DNE on liver pathology and lipid levels in NAFLD mice. We investigated the mechanism of DNE's regulation of lipid metabolism through RNA-seq analysis. Furthermore, a NAFLD model was established using HepG2 cells to further evaluate the impact of DNE on the pathological changes of NAFLD liver cells. The potential mechanism of DNE's improvement was rapidly elucidated using HT-qPCR technology. These results were subsequently validated using mouse liver samples. Following the in vitro activation or inhibition of PPARα function, we observed changes in DNE's ability to ameliorate pathological changes in NAFLD hepatocytes. This mechanism was further verified through RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis. DNE demonstrated a capacity to enhance serum TC, TG, and liver TG levels in mice, concurrently mitigating liver lipid degeneration. RNA-seq analysis unveiled that DNE primarily modulates the expression of genes related to metabolic pathways in mouse liver. Utilizing HT-qPCR technology, it was observed that DNE markedly regulates the expression of genes associated with the PPAR signaling pathway in liver cells. Consistency was observed in the in vivo data, where DNE significantly up-regulated the expression of PPARα mRNA and its protein level in mouse liver. Additionally, the expression of fatty acid metabolism-related genes (ACOX1, CPT2, HMGCS2, LPL), regulated by PPARα, was significantly elevated following DNE treatment. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that DNE notably ameliorated lipid deposition, peroxidation, and inflammation levels in NAFLD hepatocytes, particularly when administered in conjunction with fenofibrate. Notably, the PPARα inhibitor GW6471 attenuated these effects of DNE. In summary, DNE exerts its influence on the expression of genes associated with downstream fat metabolism by regulating PPARα. This regulatory mechanism enhances liver lipid metabolism, mitigates lipid degeneration in hepatocytes, and ultimately ameliorates the pathological changes in NAFLD hepatocytes. [Display omitted] • Dendrobine has capable of improving hepatic pathological changes in mice with NAFLD. • Dendrobine ameliorates hepatocellular steatosis, lipid peroxidation and inflammation in NAFLD. • Dendrobine ameliorates hepatic steatosis by modulating PPARα-related signaling in NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of hepatic lipid promotes systemic metabolic dysfunction and results in fatty liver. Our previous studies have shown that the alkaloids of Dendrobium nobile Lindl. (DNLA) could regulate the lipid metabolism gene expression in livers of mice. However, the protective effects on hepatic lipid homeostasis and the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. The C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into four groups, including control group, model group, DNLA treatment group, and simvastatin positive control group. Mice in the control group and the other three groups were fed with control diet and high fat diet during the full course of this study, respectively. Hepatic lipid accumulation was induced by HFD in mice after 18 weeks of feeding. DNLA (15 mg/kg) and simvastatin (20 mg/kg) were administrated intragastrically in the DNLA treatment group and simvastatin positive control group for another 18 weeks, respectively. HE staining and Oil-Red-O staining of liver tissues were observed. TC and TG levels in liver were assayed. The amount of major bile acids in mice livers were quantified by UPLC-MS. Expression levels of genes were tested by the real-time PCR. The results of HE staining and Oil-Red-O staining showed that DNLA could improve hepatic lipid homeostasis. DNLA significantly decreased liver TC and TG levels in the DNLA group. Moreover, the UPLC-MS analysis showed that DNLA did not only influence the hepatic bile acid quantity but did raise the hydrophilicity. Compared with the model group, DNLA decreased the hepatic levels of several free bile acids, including LCA, DCA, CA, and CDCA, and increased most important taurine-conjugated bile acids levels in liver, including TMCAs, TCDCA, TUDCA, and THDCA. In addition, DNLA also decreased the CA/CDCA ratio. The gene expression levels of Cyp27a1 , Cyp3a11 , Fxr , and Shp were up-regulated in DNLA treatment group. DNLA may improve the hepatic abnormal lipid profile of HFD-fed mice via two pathways: (1) enhancing the taurine-conjugated bile acids which are highly hydrophilic and contribute to the excretion of cholesterol; (2) decreasing the CA/CDCA ratio which is positively related to cholesterol absorption. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]