Background: Currently, obesity is a global health challenge due to its increasing prevalence and associated health risk. It is associated with various metabolic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, certain forms of cancer, and non-alcoholic liver diseases (NAFLD). Objective: The aim of this study to evaluate the effects of polyphenol enriched herbal complex (Rubus crataegifolius/ellagic acid, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge/vitexin, chlorogenic acid, Cinnamomum cassiaa/cinnamic acid) on obesity and obesity induced NAFLD in the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model. Methods: Obesity was induced in male C57BL/6 mice using HFD. After 8 weeks, the mice were treated with HFD+ plants extract for 8 weeks. Body weight, food intake weekly, and blood sugar level were measured. After sacrifice, changes in the treated group’s liver weight, fat weight, serum biochemical parameters, hormone levels, and enzyme levels were measured. For histological analysis, tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Oil Red-O. Results: Our results showed that the herbal complex ameliorated body weight and liver weight gain, and decreased total body fat in HFD-fed animals. Post prandial blood glucose (PBG) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were lower in the herbal complex-treated group than in the HFD control group. Additionally, herbal formulation treatment significantly increased HDL levels in serum and decreased TC, TG, AST, ALT, deposition of fat droplets in the liver, and intima media thickness (IMT) in the aorta. Herbal complex increased serum adiponectin and decreased serum leptin. Herbal complex also increased carnitine palmityl transferase (CPT) activity and significantly decreased enzyme activity of beta-hydroxy beta methyl glutamyl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase, and fatty acid synthase (FAS). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrated that the herbal complex is an effective herbal formulation in the attenuation of obesity and obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction including NAFLD in HFD-induced mouse model.

Rubus crataegifolius (black raspberry, RF), Ulmus macrocarpa (elm, UL), and Gardenia jasminoides (cape jasmine, GJ) are well known for hundreds of years as folk medicines in China and Korea to treat various gastrointestinal disturbance. The present study evaluated the gastroprotective effects of these plants either single or in combination against HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis and indomethacin-induced ulcer in rat model. Stomach ulcer was induced by oral ingestions of HCl/EtOH or indomethacin. Treatment with RF, UL, and GJ separately or in combination was done 1 h before ulcer induction. On HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis RF, UL, and GJ at a dose of 150 mg/kg showed comparable antigastritis effect (less than 50% inhibition) with lesion index of 94.97±8.05, 108.48±11.51, and 79.10±9.77 mm compared to cimetidine (45.33±23.73 mm). However, the combination of RF, UL, and GJ at a dose of 150 mg/kg with a ratio of 50:50:50 showed remarkable antigastritis effect with 77% inhibition. The observed lesion index at a ratio of 50:50:50 was 23.34±9.11 mm similar to cimetidine (18.88±19.88 mm). On indomethacin-induced ulcer, RF and GJ showed 38.28% and 51.8% inhibition whereas UL showed around 17.73% inhibition at 150 mg/kg. Combination of RF, UL, and GJ at 150 mg/kg showed strong antigastritis effect with 83.71% inhibition. These findings suggest strong gastroprotective effect of combined extract. In addition, these plants showed significant antioxidant activity in DPPH scavenging assay and antilipid peroxidation activity. Combination of black raspberry, elm, and cape jasmine might be a significant systemic gastroprotective agent that could be utilized for the treatment and/or protection of gastritis and gastric ulcer.

Worldwide, obesity has become a major risk factor associated with health risks such as diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and certain forms of cancer. In this study, we estimated the anti-obesity effect of the bacterial strain Lactobacillus plantarum LB818 (designated as LB818) using male C57BL/6J mice, which were treated with high-fat diet (HFD) to induce obesity. Next, LB818 (10 ⁹ colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) was orally administered for 8 weeks. The results showed that feeding HFD+LB818 (10 ⁹ CFU/mL) ameliorated body weight gain and decreased total body fat by regulating fasting glucose levels in HFD-fed mice. LB818 treatment significantly lowered aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and elevated high-density lipoprotein levels in serum and decreased deposition of fat droplets in liver. LB818 treatment increased the respective abundances of essential bacteria, including Bacteroidetes, Akkermansia , Bifidobacterium , Lactobacillus , and increased the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio; however, it significantly decreased the levels of Firmicutes. Taken together, this study demonstrates that LB818 is effective in attenuating obesity and hepatic steatosis and regulated gut microbiota in HFD-fed obese mice.

Ulcerative colitis is a complex inflammatory bowel disorder disease that can induce rectal and colonic dysfunction. Although the prevalence of IBD in Western countries is almost 0.5% of the general population, genetic causes are still not fully understood. In a recent discovery, itaconate was found to function as an immune-modulating metabolite in mammalian immune cells, wherein it is synthesized as an antimicrobial compound from the citric acid cycle intermediate cis-aconitic acid. However, the association between the Acod1 (Aconitate decarboxylase 1)-itaconate axis and ulcerative colitis has rarely been studied. To elucidate this, we established a DSS-induced colitis model with Acod1-deficient mice and then measured the mouse body weights, colon lengths, histological changes, and cytokines/chemokines in the colon. We first confirmed the upregulation of Acod1 RNA and protein expression levels in DSS-induced colitis. Then, we found that colitis symptoms, including weight loss, the disease activity index, and colon shortening, were worsened by the depletion of Acod1. In addition, the extent of intestinal epithelial barrier breakdown, the extent of immune cell infiltration, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in Acod1-deficient mice were higher than those in wild-type mice. Finally, we confirmed that 4-octyl itaconate (4-OI) alleviated DSS-induced colitis in Acod1-deficient mice and decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. To our knowledge, this study is the first to elucidate the role of the Acod1-itaconate axis in colitis. Our data clearly showed that Acod1 deletion resulted in severe DSS-induced colitis and substantial increases in inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels. Our results suggest that Acod1 may normally play an important regulatory role in the pathogenesis of colitis, demonstrating the potential for novel therapies using 4-OI.

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most widespread infections involved in the pathogenesis of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop medications against H. pylori. This study aimed to evaluate synergistic effect of Rubus crataegifolius (RF) and Ulmus macrocarpa Hance (UL) against H. pylori. Antibacterial susceptibility of each extract either separately or in combination was studied against two H. pylori standard strains and 11 clinical isolates using agar dilution method. The effect of the extracts on H. pylori inoculated Balb/c mice model was also studied using single dosing (100 mg/kg each) approach. The MIC₅₀ of RF and UL were more than 100 and 200 µg/ml, respectively, against the tested strains. However, simultaneous treatment with RF and UL at 75 and 50 µg/ml, respectively, showed decreased viable cell number, MIC₇₀, and at 75 µg/ml each showed synergic effect with MIC₉₀. On H. pylori inoculated Balb/c mice model, RF and UL separately (100 mg/kg each) showed moderate anti-H. pylori effect, while simultaneous treatment of RF and UL with same dose showed significant synergistic anti-gastric effects in stomach. The results showed a significant synergistic effect of plants extract against H. pylori infection and eventually gastric mucosal damage. Our finding could be considered a valuable support in the treatment of H. pylori induced gastritis and may contribute to the development of new and safe combined herbal product as anti-H. pylori regimens.