The Combination Of Ilexhainanoside D And Ilexsaponin A(1) Reduces Liver Inflammation And Improves Intestinal Barrier Function In Mice With High-Fat Diet-Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming a major health concern worldwide. Ilex hainanensis Merr. extract was proved to have anti-inflammation effect on NAFLD, and Ilexhainanoside D (IhD) and ilexsaponin A(1) (IsA) were the main triterpenoid saponins extracted from it.Purposes: To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of the combination of IhD and IsA (IIC) against NAFLD and discuss the potential mechanisms.Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce NAFLD and were treated with IIC (60, 120 or 240 mg/kg) for 8 weeks. Growth parameters, abdominal fat content, serum biochemical markers, hepatic lipid accumulation and insulin tolerance were assessed. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to determine the hepatic gene expression of TLR2, TLR4, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1 beta. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression of the epidermal tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Gut microbiota profiles were established via high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene.Results: IIC significantly reduced the severity of NAFLD induced by HFD in a dose-dependent manner. IIC decreased the ratio of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes, reduced the relative abundance of Desulfovibrio and increased the relative abundance of Akkerrnansia. The intestinal barrier was improved as evidenced by the upregulation of the expression of ZO-1 and occludin in the ileum. IIC thus reduced the entry of LPS into the circulation and decreased the hepatic gene expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines.Conclusion: This approach demonstrated the positive effects of IIC in a mouse model of NAFLD, indicating that it possibly acts by reducing inflammation and improving the intestinal barrier function.