Oncheong-eum alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation and intestinal barrier disruption in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in vivo model

Obesity refers to a range of disorders associated with fatty liver, which occur in abnormal and accumulated excessive fat as well as impaired intestinal epithelial barrier function, contributing to host systemic inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

In this study, we examined the effects of Oncheong-eum (OCE) on lipid metabolism and barrier protection in obese mice fed a high-fat diet of OCE. C57BL/6 J male mice were fed a normal diet (10% Kcal%fat) and a high-fat diet (45% Kcal%fat) for 14 weeks to induce obesity. Serum, hepatic, and intracellular lipid contents were assessed. Histopathological staining was used to evaluate the extent of hepatic lipid accumulation and intestinal barrier integrity. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting were conducted to examine the expression of factors associated with lipid metabolism and tight junction protection.

The body weight in the high-fat diet group significantly increased compared with that in the normal diet group, confirming that obesity was induced. On the contrary, body weight in the OCE-treated group significantly decreased compared with that in the high-fat diet control group. Liver and adipose tissue weight in the OCE-treated group was also significantly reduced compared with that in the high-fat diet control group. The serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and liver triglyceride concentrations of the OCE-treated group were significantly decreased compared with those of the high-fat diet control group, but the serum HDL-cholesterol concentration was significantly increased. In addition, the length of the colon increased, which had been reduced because of a high-fat diet, and the intestinal wall was protected by regulating tight junction genes.

OCE reduces body weight, increases the weight of organs when fed a high-fat diet, and improves the lipid composition of the serum and liver. Therefore, OCE has shown great application potential as a material for obesity-related medicines and health-functional food.