Bruceine E attenuates hepatic steatosis through modulation of PI3K/AKT/NFκB signalling pathway.

Objective: This study aims to establish the effect of bruceine E in attenuating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) through the PI3K/AKT/NFκB pathway.

Methods: High-fat-diet (HFD) male Wistar rats were orally administered with glibenclamide (20 mg/kg) or bruceine E (400, 800, or 1600 µg/kg) for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks of treatment, blood serum was analysed for liver markers. Liver histology was used to identify the degree of inflammation. The liver tissue was evaluated on the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) and inflammatory genes (nuclear factor-kappa B [NFκB], tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNFα], interleukin-6 [IL6], and interleukin-10 [IL10]) and protein expressions.

Results: The alanine transferase and aspartate transferase were reduced in HFD rats administered orally with bruceine E. In liver histology, steatosis, ballooning, and lobular inflammation were alleviated in bruceine E-treated HFD rats. The PI3K/AKT genes and proteins were activated while the inflammatory genes and protein expressions were suppressed in the bruceine E-treated HFD rats showing improvement towards insulin resistance (IR), liver steatosis, and inflammation.

Conclusions: In conclusion, bruceine E attenuated NASH through activation of the PI3K/AKT/NFκB inflammation pathway and may further delay the progression of NASH to hepatocellular carcinoma .