Efficacy of an herbal compound in decreasing steatosis and transaminase activities in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Efficacy of an herbal compound in decreasing steatosis and transaminase activities in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Hepatoprotective effects of many herbal agents have been reported in animal studies and clinical trials. In this study, five hepatoprotective plants with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects were chosen to prepare a polyherbal compound for managing NAFLD. Sixty patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into treatment and control groups (2:1 ratio). Both group were advised to take healthy diet and exercise. The treatment group also received herbal capsules containing 400 mg of the mixture of Anethum graveolens, Citrus aurantium, Cynara scolymus, Portulaca oleracea, and Silybum marianum (2 capsules, thrice daily, for two months). The liver ultrasound and biochemical markers including the serum lipids, liver enzymes, and glucose were evaluated before starting the study and at the end of the treatment. Thirty patients in the treatment group and sixteen patients in the control group completed the study. The herbal compound significantly decreased the serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and total cholesterol. Treatment with the herbal compound significantly improved the grade of the fatty liver, but no significant change was found in the control group. In conclusion, the formulated herbal compound appeared to be effective in biochemical improvement and decreasing the grade of the fatty liver in the patients with NAFLD

Effects of C-peptide on adipocytes and mesenchymal stem cells in human adipose tissue

Recent studies suggest that proinsulin connecting peptide (C-peptide) may show physiological functions in various tissues. This study was aimed to determine whether C-peptide could be involved in the regulation of lipolysis, adiponectin release, and function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in adipose tissue. Human subcutaneous adipose tissue was cultured in the presence of C-peptide and lipolysis was determined by glycerol measurement in the conditioned media. Effect of C-peptide on adiponectin secretion was evaluated in differentiated adipocytes. The adipogenic and osteogenic abilities of adipose MSCs were evaluated using Oil Red and Alizarin Red staining, respectively. C-peptide induced a significant decrease in basal lipolysis, a slight decrease (statistically insignificant) in isoproterenol-stimulated lipolysis, and a slight increase in adiponectin secretion at concentration of 8 nM, 16 nM and 4 nM, respectively. It had no effect on adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. However, at concentration of 4 nM, C-peptide significantly increased the proliferative capability of MSCs (p<0.05). These results suggest that C-peptide has physiological effects in human subcutaneous adipose tissue and contributes to the regulation of basal lipolysis and pool of MSCs