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Trans-anethole attenuates diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through suppressing TGF-β-mediated fibrosis
Caicai Zhang1, Baoyong Zhang2, Aifang Chen3
1Infectious Disease Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of the Shandong First Medical University, No. 366 of Taishan Street, Taian 271000, Shandong, China.
Background:
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is the most severe type of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and one of the most common chronic liver diseases, leading to the increased risk of liver failure, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Trans-anethole was reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities. However, its role in NASH remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effect of Trans-anethole on NASH.
Methods:
Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed on a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks to induce NASH in mice, and on the meanwhile, mice were also orally administrated with or without 100 mg/kg Trans-anethole daily to evaluate the effect of Trans-anethole on NASH.
Results:
Trans-anethole dose-dependently ameliorated liver injury in MCD diet-fed mice, then the most effective dose of Trans-anethole 100 mg/kg was chosen. Trans-anethole significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and hepatic fibrosis in MCD diet-induced NASH mice. Moreover, Trans-anethole reduced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting transforming growth factor-beta signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro.
Conclusion:
Trans-anethole effectively ameliorated NASH in MCD diet-fed mice, which suggested that Trans-anethole might serve as a therapeutic strategy for NASH.
