该研究以蛋氨酸胆碱缺乏（MCD）饲料诱导小鼠非酒精性脂肪肝炎（NASH）模型，通过小鼠血清谷草转氨酶（AST）、谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、肝脏甘油三酯（TG）和总胆固醇（CHO）含量检测，肝组织HE染色观察，脂肪合成基因ACC、FAS及炎症基因TNF-α的表达检测，研究罗汉果水提物对NASH的影响。结果显示与MCD模型组相比，罗汉果水提物组肝系数无明显改变，对肝组织损伤较小。肝组织病理证实罗汉果水提物明显减轻肝脂肪变性和炎性浸润。中、高剂量罗汉果水提物灌胃后，小鼠血清ALT含量降低为2.37 U/L和2.07 U/L（P<0.01）；AST含量降低为3.70 U/L和3.59 U/L（P<0.05）。低、中、高剂量罗汉果水提物组均下调肝组织TG含量，分别为52.45、45.94和41.14 μg/mg prot（P<0.01），但对CHO含量无影响。同时罗汉果水提物作用后ACC、FAS和TNF-α基因的表达均下调。该研究证实罗汉果水提物可抑制MCD诱导的肝脂肪变性和炎性浸润、降低脂肪酸合成及炎症相关基因表达，从而为开发NASH防治产品奠定基础。

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) was induced in a mouse model using a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet to investigate the effectiveness of LuoHanGuo aqueous extract. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in mouse serum, and liver triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (CHO) content were analyzed, HE-stained liver tissue was observed, and the expression of fat synthesis genes (ACC and FAS) and inflammatory gene (TNF-α) was monitored. No significant difference was observed in the liver coefficient of the LuoHanGuo aqueous-extract group and the MCD-model group, although less damage to liver tissue was evident. Liver histopathology confirmed that the LuoHanGuo aqueous extract significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and inflammatory infiltration. After oral administration with medium and high doses of LuoHanGuo aqueous extract, the ALT content in mouse serum decreased to 2.37 and 2.07 U/L, respectively (P<0.01), whereas the AST content decreased to 3.70 and 3.59 U/L, respectively (P<0.05). The low, medium, and high doses of LuoHanGuo aqueous extract all down regulated the TG content of liver tissue to 52.45, 45.94, and 41.14 μg/mg prot, respectively (P<0.01), but had no effect on the CHO content. Furthermore, the expression of ACC, FAS, and TNF-α genes was down regulated after the LuoHanGuo treatment. This study confirmed that LuoHanGuo aqueous extract could inhibit MCD-induced hepatic steatosis and inflammatory infiltration, and reduce the expression of fatty acid synthesis and inflammation-related genes, thereby providing an experimental basis for the development of products for the prevention and treatment of NASH.

国家自然科学基金项目（81303292）