Research Article Details
Article ID: | A00030 |
PMID: | 35250593 |
Source: | Front Pharmacol |
Title: | Combined Use of Bicyclol and Berberine Alleviates Mouse Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. |
Abstract: | Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from simple steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is a liver disease worldwide without approved therapeutic drugs. Anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective drug bicyclol and multi-pharmacological active drug berberine, respectively, have shown beneficial effects on NAFLD in murine nutritional models and patients, though the therapeutic mechanisms remain to be illustrated. Here, we investigated the combined effects of bicyclol and berberine on mouse steatosis induced by Western diet (WD), and NASH induced by WD/CCl4. The combined use of these was rather safe and better reduced the levels of transaminase in serum and triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver than their respective monotherapy, accompanied with more significantly attenuating hepatic inflammation, steatosis, and ballooning in mice with steatosis and NASH. The combined therapy also significantly inhibited fibrogenesis, characterized by the decreased hepatic collagen deposition and fibrotic surface. As per mechanism, bicyclol enhanced lipolysis and β-oxidation through restoring the p62-Nrf2-CES2 signaling axis and p62-Nrf2-PPARα signaling axis, respectively, while berberine suppressed de novo lipogenesis through downregulating the expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase, along with enrichment of lipid metabolism-related Bacteroidaceae (family) and Bacteroides (genus). Of note, the combined use of bicyclol and berberine did not influence each other but enhanced the overall therapeutic role in the amelioration of NAFLD. Conclusion: Combined use of bicyclol and berberine might be a new available strategy to treat NAFLD. |
DOI: | 10.3389/fphar.2022.843872 |

Strategy ID | Therapy Strategy | Synonyms | Therapy Targets | Therapy Drugs | |
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S02 | Enhance lipid metabolism | triglyceride-lowering; lipid tolerance; lipid metabolism | 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) inhibitor; Decreases intestinal cholesterol absorption; FXR agonist; ACC inhibitor; FAS inhibitor; DGAT2 inhibitor; SCD-1 inhibitor | Atorvastatin; Ezetimibe; Obeticholic Acid; GS-9674; GS-0976; TVB-2640; IONIS-DGAT2rx; Aramchol; | Details |
S05 | Anti-inflammatory | inflammatory | Bile acid; TNF-a inhibitor; Dual PPAR-α and -δ agonists; Toll-Like Receptor; (TLR)-4 antagonist; Caspase inhibitor; ASK-1 inhibitor | Ursodeoxycholic Acid; Pentoxifylline; Elafibranor; JKB-121; Emricasan; Selonsertib; | Details |
S06 | Regulating intestinal flora | intestine gut microbiota; gut microbiota | farnesoid X receptor (FXR); fibroblast growth factor-19 (FGF19) | Probiotics; Prebiotics; Rifaximin; Yaq-001; Cilofexor; EDP-305; EYP001a; INT-767 | Details |
S07 | Anti-lipogenesis | de novo lipogenesis; de novo lipogenesis; DNL; anti-lipogenic mechanisms; adipogenesis; anti-obesity | stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD-1); Acetyl-coenzyme carboxylase; acyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor (ACC inhibitor); stearoyl Coenzyme A desaturase inhibitor (SCD inhibitor); THR-beta selective agonist; DGAT2 inhibitor; FASN inhibitor | Aramchol; Firsocostat (GS-0976); VK-2809; ION 224 | Details |
Diseases ID | DO ID | Disease Name | Definition | Class |
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Drug ID | Drug Name | Type | DrugBank ID | Targets | Category | Latest Progress | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D328 | Serine | Chemical drug | DB00133 | SRR | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |
D010 | Amoxicillin | Chemical drug | DB01060 | -- | -- | Under clinical trials | Details |
D316 | S-adenosyl-L-methionine | Chemical drug | DB00118 | GNMT cofactor | Antiviral | Under clinical trials | Details |
D029 | Berberine | Chemical drug | DB04115 | AMPK activator | Improve insulin resistance | Under clinical trials | Details |