Evaluation of Uttroside B, a potent bioactive from Solanum nigrum Linn, as a candidate drug molecule against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: The incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is increasing steadily across the global population. NAFLD may progress to the more serious non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a condition that can subsequently advance to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and in many cases, to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). There are currently no drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of NAFLD. We previously reported the remarkable therapeutic potency of Utt-B, a saponin isolated in our lab, from the leaves of Solanum nigrum Linn (S. nigrum), against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the current study, we have investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Utt-B against NAFLD, which eventually leads to NASH. Materials and Methods: HepG2 cells were used for in vitro experiments. MTT assay, Oil Red O staining and Immunoblotting were used to evaluate the hepatoprotective and therapeutic effects of Utt-B against NAFLD. Results: Utt-B treatment effectively reduced lipid droplet accumulation within HepG2 cells, demonstrating its potential in mitigating fat deposition associated with NAFLD. Utt-B activated AMPK signaling, leading to the down-regulation of FASN, a key enzyme regulating lipogenesis, suggesting its ability to modulate pathways involved in lipid metabolism. Conclusion: Our results highlight Utt-B as a promising therapeutic agent for metabolic liver disorders, including NAFLD and NASH, warranting further exploration of the molecule in clinical settings.