Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and is a variety of liver diseases that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Gut microbiota is an important factor that can produce bene...
Background: Metabolic dysfunction-associated liver disease (MASLD) is the most common chronic liver disease and is a variety of liver diseases that can progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Gut microbiota is an important factor that can produce beneficial metabolites for the treatment of chronic diseases such as MASLD. Additionally, supplementation with prebiotics can improve microbial imbalances and create beneficial microorganisms. Based on network pharmacology data, we evaluated the MALSD inhibition efficacy of myricetin and compound K using MASLD-induced mice.
Method: We used MASLD mice induced by Western diet for 6 weeks and performed two experiments. In the first mixed administration experiment, myricetin and compound K were administered by oral gavage three times a week at a ratio of 30:70, 50:50, and 70:30. In the second single administration experiment, myricetin 100mg/kg and compound K 10mg/kg were administered by oral gavage. The severity of MASLD was determined based on liver/body weight, pathology, and blood biochemical biomarkers. After completion of the experiment, liver tissue from mice was collected for mRNA level measurement and RNA-seq analysis. The cecum was collected for metagenomics analysis.
Result: Myricetin and compound K administration alleviated liver damage and improved NAS score and biochemical markers in a MASLD-induced model. It also suppressed MALSD by regulating the expression levels of genes related to lipid metabolism and inflammation in liver tissue. Western blotting and mRNA-Seq results confirmed that single or direct administration of myriceitn and compound K regulated the Wnt signaling pathway. Stool metagenomics analysis restored intestinal microbial imbalance.
Conclusion: Based on network pharmacology research data, correlation with the gut microbiome was confirmed. Myricetin and compound K can regulate Wnt signaling and restored intestinal microbial imbalance. It alleviated liver damage in MASLD and improved lipid metabolism mechanisms and liver inflammation. Our study shows that myricetin and compound K are potential prebiotics that can inhibit the development of MASLD, which are worthy of further clinical investigation and may lead to the development of new drugs that can be used as treatments for MASLD.