Herbal medicines are widely used in many countries for the treatment of many diseases. Although the use of herb extracts as
alternative medicine is growing, their toxicological properties have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, we have investigated the effects of water and
ethanol extracts of 18 herbs on the hepatic lipid metabolism and steatogenic hepatotoxicity.
Ethanol extracts of Cirsium japonicum, Carthamus tinctorius, Rehmanniae glutinosa (preparata), Polygala tenuifolia, Foeniculum vulgare, Polygonum multiflorum, and Acorus gramineus and water extracts of Polygonum multiflorum and Rehmanniae glutinosa induced
lipid accumulation in Sk-hep1 human
hepatoma cells as determined by
Nile red staining. These extracts increased the
luciferase activity of
sterol regulatory
element (SRE) and decreased that of peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE), indicating the possibilities of enhanced
fatty acid synthesis and decreased
fatty acid oxidation. To identify the components responsible for the fat accumulation, we tested 50 chemicals isolated from the nine herbs.
Apigenin,
luteolin,
pectolinarin and
lupeol from Cirsium japonicum,
8-methoxypsoralen and
umbelliferone from Foeniculum vulgare and pomonic
acid and jiocerebroside from Rehmanniae glutinosa significantly increased the accumulation of lipid droplets. These results suggest that
ethanol extracts of Cirsium japonicum, Carthamus tinctorius, Rehmanniae glutinosa (preparata), Polygala tenuifolia, Foeniculum vulgare, Polygonum multiflorum, and Acorus gramineus and water extracts of Polygonum multiflorum and Rehmanniae glutinosa can cause
fatty liver disease by decreasing β-oxidation of
fatty acid and increasing lipogenesis.