Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Dec 07, 2024 4 days, 13 hours, 30 minutes ago
Medical News: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) has become the most common chronic liver condition worldwide, affecting millions. With its potential to progress into severe liver complications requiring transplants, MASLD poses significant health and economic challenges globally. Despite its widespread impact, effective medications for this disease remain scarce.
Lycorine's Potential as a Treatment for Liver Disease
Image: Stonecrop Plant
Researchers from the Department of Gastroenterology and Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine at Liyuan Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, are exploring new treatment avenues. This
Medical News report delves into their recent study, which investigates lycorine, a natural alkaloid, as a potential therapeutic option for MASLD.
The Promise of Lycorine
Lycorine, a phytochemical derived from bulbs of the stonecrop plant and Allium sativum, is known for its anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and lipid-lowering properties. However, its effects on MASLD have been unclear until now. The researchers aimed to test lycorine's ability to counter MASLD using a mouse model fed a high-fat diet for 16 weeks. Over the last four weeks, these mice received varying doses of lycorine to observe its impact on liver health.
The study found that lycorine significantly improved liver health. It reduced liver fat accumulation, oxidative stress, and a type of cell death called ferroptosis. Lycorine achieved this by targeting a protein called EGFR and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Key Study Findings
-Reduction of Liver Fat
Mice given lycorine displayed reduced liver fat, particularly at higher doses. Their livers showed fewer visible signs of fat-related damage under the microscope, and key liver enzymes - associated with inflammation and damage - were markedly lower.
Gene analysis revealed that lycorine decreased the activity of fatty acid synthesis genes while enhancing genes involved in breaking down fat. These effects were particularly evident at higher doses, demonstrating lycorine’s dose-dependent efficacy.
-Combating Oxidative Stress
MASLD involves an imbalance between harmful reactive oxygen species and the liver's antioxidant defenses. Lycorine improved this balance by enhancing levels of antioxidants like SOD and GSH while reducing lipid peroxides and ROS.
-Ferroptosis Inhibition
Ferroptosis, a specific form of cell death linked to oxidative damage, was significantly reduced. Lycorine lowered iron levels in the liver and improved mitochondrial health, crucial for reducing cellular damage.
-Supporting Energy Regulation in Fat Tissues
Lycorine promoted the transformation of white adipose tissue (WAT) into beige fat, a form that burns energy rather tha
n storing it. High doses of lycorine also boosted the activity of thermogenic proteins like UCP1 in brown adipose tissue (BAT), aiding fat metabolism and reducing liver fat deposition.
-Improving Gut Health
The gut microbiome plays a critical role in liver health. The study showed that lycorine positively altered the gut microbiome in MASLD mice. Beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia, increased, while harmful bacteria linked to inflammation decreased. Furthermore, lycorine strengthened the intestinal barrier by boosting protective proteins and reduced intestinal inflammation through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Mechanisms of Action
Through advanced molecular techniques, the researchers identified EGFR as a critical target of lycorine. This protein influences several pathways involved in liver fat accumulation and inflammation. By inhibiting EGFR, lycorine disrupted harmful processes like lipid synthesis and oxidative stress, paving the way for improved liver function.
Implications of the Findings
The research underscores lycorine's potential as a treatment for MASLD, especially given its ability to target multiple pathways involved in the disease. Its effects extend beyond the liver, addressing metabolic and gut-related factors contributing to the condition.
However, the study also noted a threshold for lycorine's effectiveness. Extremely high doses might reduce its beneficial effects, indicating the importance of optimized dosing.
Conclusion
This groundbreaking research highlights lycorine as a promising candidate for MASLD treatment. Its multi-faceted benefits - ranging from fat reduction and oxidative stress control to gut microbiome improvement—make it an innovative approach to managing a complex disease.
While further studies are needed, particularly in humans, lycorine’s natural origin and wide-ranging effects provide a strong foundation for developing new MASLD therapies.
The study findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Molecular Medicine.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10020-024-01003-6
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/study-shows-iberverin-from-cabbage-as-a-potent-ally-against-liver-cancer-cells-by-inducing-ferroptosis
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/herbs-and-phytochemicals
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