Pectin oligosaccharide from hawthorn fruit ameliorates hepatic inflammation via NF-κB inactivation in high-fat diet fed mice

Effects of pectin oligosaccharide (POS) derived from hawthorn fruit on the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-kappa B) pathway-related factors were investigated in the liver of mice fed a high-fat diet. The results showed that POS significantly reduced the total liver fat content and the levels of hepatic pro-inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6), while increased the level of interleukin-10 (IL-10). Moreover, POS significantly down-regulated gene and protein expression of NF-kappa B, with concomitant decreased mRNA levels of receptor interacting protein kinase 1 (RIP1), NF-kappa B-inducing kinase (NIK), I kappa B kinase-alpha (IKK alpha), TNF alpha and its receptors 1 (TNFR1), receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2), compared to high fat control (HFC). However, expressions of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and silent information regulator T 1 (SIRT 1) were up regulated by POS, compared to HFC. The results indicated that POS had significant inhibition effects on the liver inflammation in vivo, involving the inhibition on NF-kappa B activation.