Effects of Antrodia Camphorate Extract on Diet-Induced Steatohepatitis

Excess dietary lipid consumption may lead to increase of non-alcoholic liver disease (NAFLD), and steatosis, insulin resistance and chronic inflammatory responses are important factors in the disease progression. Antrodia camphorate is traditionally used as medicinal plant and may have antitumor and antiiflammatory effects. Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate the effects of Antrodia camphorate extract (AE) on diet-induced steatohepatitis to clarify the underlying mechanisms. In the first part of the study, we will feed rats with high-fat diet to increase fat accumulation and inflammatory responses to evaluate whether the supplementation of AE can improve steatosis and decrease the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. In the second part of the study, we further use a high-fat-liquid-diet-induced NASH model to evaluate whether long-term AE intervention can ameliorate fatty liver, insulin resistance and inflammatory responses and retard NAFLD progression. In the third part of the study, we will use primary cell culture to clarify the effects of AE on toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) related pathways. We expect that AE may be effective in retarding the progression of liver diseases, ameliorating inflammation, and the results of the study may be useful in development of functional food against related chronic liver diseases.