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This study aimed to evaluate the alleviating effect of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. leaves flavonoids (CLF) on hyperuricemia induced by potassium oxonate in mice. The results showed that CLF lowered the serum levels of uric acid (UA), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen, downregulated hepatic mRNA expressions of xanthine oxidase (XO), phosphate ribose pyrophosphate synthetase (PRPS) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in hyperuricemia mice. In addition, CLF repaired renal injury by significantly down-regulating mRNA and protein expressions of renal UA reabsorption-related proteins and up-regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of UA secretory-related proteins. Finally, CLF inhibited UA synthesis and promoted UA excretion to alleviate hyperuricemia. Besides, CLF supplementation repaired the intestinal barrier function as demonstrated by significant increased mRNA levels of intestinal zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, mucin 2 (MUC2) and mucin 4 (MUC4), as well as decreased mRNA levels of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) in mice. Further research showed that CLF treatment restored intestinal homeostasis mediated by improving the composition of gut microbiota and elevating the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus, Alistipes, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Parasutterella. Overall, our findings revealed a novel function of CLF as a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of hyperuricemia.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the chronic liver diseases with high incidence in the world. This study aimed to investigate whether total flavonoids from Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. leaves (TFC) can ameliorate NAFLD. Herein, a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD mice model was established, and TFC was administered orally. The results showed that TFC reduced the body weight and liver index and decreased the serum and hepatic levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC). TFC significantly reduced the activity of liver functional transaminase. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased by 34.61% and 39.57% in serum and 22.46% and 40.86% in the liver, respectively. TFC regulated the activities of oxidative-stress-related enzymes and upregulated the protein expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase (HO-1) pathway in NAFLD mice, and the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in serum were increased by 89.76% and 141.77%, respectively. In addition, TFC reduced the levels of free fatty acids (FFA), endotoxin (ET), and related inflammatory factors in mouse liver tissue and downregulated the expression of proteins associated with inflammatory pathways. After TFC treatment, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in the liver tissues of NAFLD mice were downregulated by 67.10%, 66.56%, and 61.45%, respectively. Finally, TFC reduced liver fat deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response to repair liver damage and alleviate NAFLD. Further studies showed that TFC regulated the expression of intestinal-barrier-related genes and improved the composition of gut microbiota. Therefore, TFC reduced liver inflammation and restored intestinal homeostasis by regulating the gut–liver axis. Overall, our findings revealed a novel function of TFC as a promising prophylactic for the treatment of NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the chronic liver diseases with high incidence in the world. This study aimed to investigate whether total flavonoids from Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. leaves (TFC) can ameliorate NAFLD. Herein, a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD mice model was established, and TFC was administered orally. The results showed that TFC reduced the body weight and liver index and decreased the serum and hepatic levels of triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC). TFC significantly reduced the activity of liver functional transaminase. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) decreased by 34.61% and 39.57% in serum and 22.46% and 40.86% in the liver, respectively. TFC regulated the activities of oxidative-stress-related enzymes and upregulated the protein expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase (HO-1) pathway in NAFLD mice, and the activities of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in serum were increased by 89.76% and 141.77%, respectively. In addition, TFC reduced the levels of free fatty acids (FFA), endotoxin (ET), and related inflammatory factors in mouse liver tissue and downregulated the expression of proteins associated with inflammatory pathways. After TFC treatment, the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in the liver tissues of NAFLD mice were downregulated by 67.10%, 66.56%, and 61.45%, respectively. Finally, TFC reduced liver fat deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response to repair liver damage and alleviate NAFLD. Further studies showed that TFC regulated the expression of intestinal-barrier-related genes and improved the composition of gut microbiota. Therefore, TFC reduced liver inflammation and restored intestinal homeostasis by regulating the gut–liver axis. Overall, our findings revealed a novel function of TFC as a promising prophylactic for the treatment of NAFLD.

This work aimed to investigate the structural characteristics, antioxidant activities and hepatoprotection effect of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. leaves polysaccharides (COP) on alcohol-induced oxidative damage in mice. Physical and chemical analysis showed that COP contained four monosaccharides including arabinose (Ara), mannose (Man), glucose (Glu) and galactose (Gal), with mass percentages of 26.6%, 5.1%, 32.2% and 36.0%, respectively, which was a heteropolysaccharide with both α- and β- configurations. In vivo experiments indicated that oral administration COP significantly reduced the levels of ALT, AST and MDA in serum, and significantly increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px. Mice pretreated with COP had a higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in liver and lower content of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the liver and serum when compared with alcohol exposure. In addition, the liver histopathological changes induced by alcohol returned to normal in the COP pretreatment group. These results suggest that COP has a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by alcohol. • COP has a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by alcohol. • COP significantly reduced the levels of ALT, AST, and MDA and increased the activity of SOD and GSH-Px in serum. • Compared with alcohol exposure mice, COP enhanced activities of SOD and GSH-Px in liver and reduced content of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in liver and serum. • Liver histopathological changes induced by alcohol returned to normal in the COP pretreatment group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ethanol extracts of Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. leaves were prepared sequentially by ethanol gradient elution and tested for their α-glucosidase inhibitory. The fraction of 50% ethanol eluate (EE) exhibited the notable inhibition with IC 50 of 0.376 mg/mL. Also, 50% EE was chemically characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis. Eight compounds including rutin (1), hyperin (2), isoquercitrin (3), luteoloside (4), astragalin (6), quercetin (13), naringenin (14), kaempferol (15) were identified by compared with standard substances as well as proper luteolin-5-O-glucoside (5), kaempferol-7-O-rhamnoside (9), 5,7,8-trihydroxy-2-methoxyl-flavone-7-O-glucoside (10), kaempferol-7-O-acetyl-galactoside (11). The experiments of ultra-filtration combined with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UF-LC–MS) guided quercetin and kaempferol as the key factors for 50% EE showing highly inhibitory activity on α-glucosidase. Quercetin and kaempferol inhibited yeast α-glucosidase in a mixed-type manner with IC 50 of 66.8 and 109 μg/mL, respectively. These results would provide theoretical underpinning for the C. nitens Oliv. leaves ethanol extracts used as nutraceutical health supplement in the management of type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]