Herbal Flavonoid May Benefit Patients with Common Liver Disease

By CP Staff

In a new study, researchers investigated the potential benefits of an herbal flavonoid on fatty liver disease. Fatty liver disease, also known as steatosis hepatitis, is a condition in which triglycerides (fats) are deposited in the liver. There are two broad types of fatty liver disease: 1) Reversible, non inflammatory accumulation of fat in the liver, called non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and 2) The accumulation of fat in the liver that causes inflammation and damage, which is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH); without significant lifestyle (diet and exercise) and antioxidant interventions, NASH frequently progresses to irreversible cirrhosis.

Fatty liver is the most common liver disease in the United States, and it is estimated that nearly one-third of American adults has some degree of fatty liver disease. It is associated with obesity, diabetes, alcohol intake and exposure to toxic chemicals or high dosages of acetaminophen plus elevated triglyceride and cholesterol levels.

In a recently published study, investigators evaluated the effect of baicalin, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonoid constituent from the herb Scutellaria baicalensis, on fatty liver disease in rats. In this study, rats were fed a high-fat diet with or without baicalin supplementation for 16 weeks. The rats were then evaluated for serum lipid levels, insulin levels, inflammatory mediators, weight and changes in lipid metabolism in the liver.

The results showed that the rats that received baicalin supplementation experienced decreased weight gain and visceral fat mass (fat surrounding the organs) compared to the rats fed the high-fat diet alone. The baicalin-supplemented rats also had decreased levels of serum cholesterol, free fatty acids and insulin compared to the rats that did not receive baicalin supplementation. In addition, baicalin treatment reduced the level of the pro-inflammatory cellular mediator tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Furthermore, the rats that received baicalin showed less fat accumulation in the liver, a reduction in the expression of genes in the liver that produce lipids and modulation of enzymes involved in lipid metabolism including AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). Baicalin was also shown to decrease lipid accumulation in liver cells even in the presence of elevated glucose levels.

Thus, the researchers stated, “Our study suggests that baicalin might have beneficial effects on the development of hepatic steatosis and obesity-related disorders by targeting the hepatic AMPK.”

Reference:

Guo HX, Liu DH, Ma Y, Liu JF, Wang Y, Du ZY, Wang X, Shen JK, Peng HL. Long-term baicalin administration ameliorates metabolic disorders and hepatic steatosis in rats given a high-fat diet. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2009 Nov;30(11):1505-12.

Scutellaria baicalensis is found in Liver Support Formula™ along with other liver-supporting ingredients.