This article contains findings obtained from research on animals:
- The results from animal research studies should not be directly applied to humans and the results may not generalise to the human population.
- There may be significant differences between species in terms of physiology, physiology, and pharmacology, as well as differences in the way diseases and treatments are modelled in animals.
- Any conclusions drawn from animal research should be considered with caution and in the context of other types of research studies such as observational studies, clinical trials, and reviews of the literature.
Insights & Discussion
When combined, Silibinin and Pu-erh tea extract prove more effective in preventing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease than when used individually.
The research used obese mice (ob/ob) and fed them a high-fat diet along with the oral administration of Silibinin, Pu-erh tea extract, or both, over a six-week period. Concurrently, lean mice were used as a control group, consuming a regular diet. The blood chemical index and histopathological evaluations were analyzed to determine the effects of Silibinin and Pu-erh tea extract on the mice, particularly in terms of weight, blood lipid levels, fat metabolism, and inflammatory response.
The results showcased that in comparison to the group of mice suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the groups which received either Pu-erh tea extract, Silibinin, or a combination of both exhibited significant reductions in weight and blood lipid levels. Furthermore, both Silibinin and Pu-erh tea extract, whether used alone or in tandem, were found to improve fat metabolism and decrease the inflammatory response to a certain extent. The combined group, however, displayed the strongest efficacy in adjusting fat metabolism and inhibiting oxidative stress. They also revealed the drugs' ability to inhibit fat synthesis and improve cholesterol homeostasis by regulating the expression of specific genes. The combined effect was superior to that of individual usage.
Discover Related Insights
Chinese medicine formulas for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease were superior to antioxidants in alanine aminotransferase normalization.
2021 World Journal of Acupuncture-Moxibustion Chinese medicine formulas for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: Overview of systematic reviews Dai L, Zhou WJ, Zhong LLD, Tang XD, Ji G
Review Article Fatty Liver Disease Metabolic Syndrome
Seven systematic reviews were ultimately included. All systematic reviews were conducted based on randomized controlled trials and published in the last decade. According to the AMSTAR 2 tool, one systematic review was judged as having a moderate confidence level, whereas the other studies were rated as having a low or extremely low level of confidence. The ROBIS tool showed that the included systematic reviews all had a high risk of bias due to insufficient consideration of identified concerns. According to the GRADE system, only two outcomes were determined as high quality; namely, TCM formulas with the HuoXueHuaYu principle were better than conventional medications in ultrasound improvement, and TCM formulas were superior to antioxidants in alanine aminotransferase normalization. Other outcomes were downgraded to lower levels, mainly because of heterogeneity among studies, not meeting optimal information sample size, and inclusion of excessive numbers of small sample studies. Nevertheless, the evidence quality of extracted outcomes should be further downgraded when applying to clinical practice due to indirectness.
Many clinical and experimental studies suggest that Chinese herbal formula are effective in reducing fatty liver disease, and revolving inflammation via many mechanistic pathways.
2020 Frontiers in Endocrinology Chinese Medicinal Herbs Targeting the Gut–Liver Axis and Adipose Tissue–Liver Axis for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Treatments: The Ancient Wisdom and Modern Science Zhang Shuwei, Wong Yui-Tung, Tang Ka-Yu, Kwan Hiu-Yee, Su Tao
Review Article Fatty Liver Disease
The NAFLD pandemic implies an increase number of patients diagnosed with NAFL, NASH, liver fibrosis and HCC in the near future. Although the interpretation and diagnosis of NAFLD in Chinese medicine are different from those in western medicine, many clinical and experimental studies suggest that Chinese herbal formula are effective in reducing hepatic steatosis, and revolving inflammation via many mechanistic pathways. Some Chines herbal formulae also target at the gut–liver axis in NAFLD, while the adipose tissue–liver axis emerges to be a therapeutic approach for the treatment of NAFLD. More clinical and in-depth mechanistic investigations may help to validate the roles of these Chinese herbal formulae for the treatment of NAFLD. Application of the modern technology can also help to discover novel herbal-based therapeutics for the treatment.
Consumption of virgin avocado oil, rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and bioactive components, may help manage chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and lower cardiometabolic risk.
2019 Journal of Functional Foods Virgin avocado oil: An emerging source of functional fruit oil Tan CX
Systematic Review Fatty Liver Disease
The research paper is a review that explores various extraction methods developed for producing virgin avocado oil (VAO) and the oil yields for these methods. It additionally details the physicochemical composition of VAO, focusing specifically on its high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids and bioactive components, such as α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol.
The results discussed indicate that VAO, which is mainly composed of oleic, palmitic, and linoleic acids, can be utilized as a functional oil offering potential health benefits. In particular, the intake of avocado oil could aid in managing conditions like hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, diabetes, and fatty liver disease, taking advantage of its rich composition. Furthermore, it was noted that the oil could also reduce cardiometabolic risks and exhibit properties that can combat microbial activity.