Extracts of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits improve liver steatosis and injury in mice by preventing lipid accumulation and cell death |
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| Authors: | Sanae Haga YiMin Hikari Yamaki Shigeki Jin Tetsuya Sogon |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Biological Response and Regulation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan;2. Department of Advanced Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan;3. Department of Forensic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan;4. WAKASA SEIKATSU Corporation, Kyoto, Japan |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTBilberry has been reported to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We studied the effect of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) fruits extracts (BEs) on the pathogenesis caused by lipid accumulation in fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). 5 μg/ml of BEs was enough to suppress lipid accumulation in the fatty liver model of the mouse hepatic AML12 cells. BEs increased cell viability and anti-oxidant capacity, presumably by activating (phosphorylating) Akt/STAT3 and inducing MnSOD/catalase. BEs also significantly reduced Rubicon and induced p62/SQSTM1, possibly contributing to reduce cellular lipids (lipophagy). When the mice were fed supplemented with BEs (5% or 10%, w/w), hepatic steatosis, injury, and hypercholesterolemia/hyperglycemia were significantly improved. Furthermore, histological and cytokine studies indicated that BEs possibly suppress hepatic inflammation (hepatitis) and fibrosis. Therefore, BEs improved liver steatosis and injury, and potentially suppress fibrosis by suppressing inflammatory response, which therefore may prevent the progression of fatty liver to NASH. |
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| Keywords: | Bilberry fruits fatty liver liver injury non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) Vaccinium myrtillus |
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