Rhus verniciflua and Eucommia ulmoides extracts can regulate hepatic dyslipidemia

In this study, researchers from South Korea examined the mechanism by which the combined extracts of Rhus verniciflua (Chinese lacquer tree) and Eucommia ulmoides (Chinese rubber tree) — denoted as ILF-RE — regulate hepatic dyslipidemia. Their findings were published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine.

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with features of metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress.
• To investigate the effects of ILF-RE on this disease, the researchers used a rat model of NAFLD with high-fat diet HFD)-induced lipid dysmetabolism.
• They reported that ILF-RE treatment reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 1.5 percent, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels by 1.5 percent, triglycerides by 1.5 percent, cholesterol by 2.0 percent and lipid peroxidation by 1.5 percent.
• Meanwhile, the antioxidant properties of ILF-RE inhibited hepatic reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by 1.68 percent and regulated ER-redox imbalance — a key part of ER stress.
• Because of the HFD, nutrient overload stress-related protein folding promoted ER stress and SREBP-lipogenic transcription signaling, which interfered with the mTORC1-AMPK axis. This series of events led to hepatic steatosis in the rat model.
• Treatment with ILF-RE, however, reversed these events and induced hepatic recovery.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the combined extracts of R. verniciflua and E. ulmoides can be used for the prevention or treatment of NAFLD.

Journal Reference:

Lee H-Y, Lee GH, Yoon Y, Chae HJ. RHUS VERNICIFLUA AND EUCOMMIA ULMOIDES PROTECTS AGAINST HIGH-FAT DIET-INDUCED HEPATIC STEATOSIS BY ENHANCING ANTI-OXIDATION AND AMPK ACTIVATION. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 2019;47(06):1253–1270. DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x19500642