Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant and urgent global health concern. Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) is a plant commonly used in cuisine and traditional medicine in Asian countries and possesses potential liver-protective properties. This study...
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/16/3074 |
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| author | Xialu Sheng Lixia Wang Ping Zhan Wanying He Honglei Tian Jianshu Liu |
| author_facet | Xialu Sheng Lixia Wang Ping Zhan Wanying He Honglei Tian Jianshu Liu |
| author_sort | Xialu Sheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant and urgent global health concern. Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) is a plant commonly used in cuisine and traditional medicine in Asian countries and possesses potential liver-protective properties. This study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective effects of thyme polyphenol-rich extract (TPE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD and further explore possible mechanisms based on the gut–liver axis. HFD-induced liver injury in C57 mice is markedly ameliorated by TPE supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. TPE also regulates the expression of liver lipid metabolic genes (i.e., <i>Hmgcr</i>, <i>Srebp-1</i>, <i>Fasn</i>, and <i>Cyp7a1</i>), enhancing the production of SCFAs and regulating serum metabolites by modulating gut microbial dysbiosis. Furthermore, TPE enhances the intestinal barrier function and alleviates intestinal inflammation by upregulating tight junction protein expression (i.e., ZO-1 and occluding) and inactivating the intestinal TLR4/NF-κB pathway in HFD-fed mice. Consequently, gut-derived LPS translocation to the circulation was blocked, the liver TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was repressed, and subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokine production was restrained. Conclusively, TPE might exert anti-NAFLD effects through the gut–liver axis and has the potential to be used as a dietary supplement for the management of NAFLD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:56:29Z |
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| id | doaj.art-9b2b8eb52f704767b1c5862e90a10396 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:56:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b2b8eb52f704767b1c5862e90a103962023-11-19T01:06:28ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582023-08-011216307410.3390/foods12163074Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver AxisXialu Sheng0Lixia Wang1Ping Zhan2Wanying He3Honglei Tian4Jianshu Liu5College of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences and Food Engineering, Shaanxi Xueqian Normal University, Xi’an 710061, ChinaCollege of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaCollege of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaCollege of Food Engineering and Nutritional Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710119, ChinaShaanxi Provincial Research Center of Functional Food Engineering Technology, Xi’an 710100, ChinaNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant and urgent global health concern. Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) is a plant commonly used in cuisine and traditional medicine in Asian countries and possesses potential liver-protective properties. This study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective effects of thyme polyphenol-rich extract (TPE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD and further explore possible mechanisms based on the gut–liver axis. HFD-induced liver injury in C57 mice is markedly ameliorated by TPE supplementation in a dose-dependent manner. TPE also regulates the expression of liver lipid metabolic genes (i.e., <i>Hmgcr</i>, <i>Srebp-1</i>, <i>Fasn</i>, and <i>Cyp7a1</i>), enhancing the production of SCFAs and regulating serum metabolites by modulating gut microbial dysbiosis. Furthermore, TPE enhances the intestinal barrier function and alleviates intestinal inflammation by upregulating tight junction protein expression (i.e., ZO-1 and occluding) and inactivating the intestinal TLR4/NF-κB pathway in HFD-fed mice. Consequently, gut-derived LPS translocation to the circulation was blocked, the liver TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway was repressed, and subsequent pro-inflammatory cytokine production was restrained. Conclusively, TPE might exert anti-NAFLD effects through the gut–liver axis and has the potential to be used as a dietary supplement for the management of NAFLD.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/16/3074<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celakpolyphenolliver injurygut–liver axisTLR4 |
| spellingShingle | Xialu Sheng Lixia Wang Ping Zhan Wanying He Honglei Tian Jianshu Liu Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis Foods <i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak polyphenol liver injury gut–liver axis TLR4 |
| title | Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis |
| title_full | Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis |
| title_fullStr | Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis |
| title_short | Thyme (<i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak) Polyphenol-Rich Extract (TPE) Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Injury in Mice by Inactivating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway through the Gut<tt>–</tt>Liver Axis |
| title_sort | thyme i thymus quinquecostatus i celak polyphenol rich extract tpe alleviates hfd induced liver injury in mice by inactivating the tlr4 nf κb signaling pathway through the gut tt tt liver axis |
| topic | <i>Thymus quinquecostatus</i> Celak polyphenol liver injury gut–liver axis TLR4 |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/12/16/3074 |
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