Efficacy of an herbal compound in decreasing steatosis and transaminase activities in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Hepatoprotective effects of many herbal agents have been reported in animal studies and clinical trials. In this study, five hepatoprotective plants with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects were chosen to prepare a polyherbal compound for managing NAFLD. Sixty patients with NAFLD were randomly divided into treatment and control groups (2:1 ratio). Both group were advised to take healthy diet and exercise. The treatment group also received herbal capsules containing 400 mg of the mixture of Anethum graveolens, Citrus aurantium, Cynara scolymus, Portulaca oleracea, and Silybum marianum (2 capsules, thrice daily, for two months). The liver ultrasound and biochemical markers including the serum lipids, liver enzymes, and glucose were evaluated before starting the study and at the end of the treatment. Thirty patients in the treatment group and sixteen patients in the control group completed the study. The herbal compound significantly decreased the serum level of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and total cholesterol. Treatment with the herbal compound significantly improved the grade of the fatty liver, but no significant change was found in the control group. In conclusion, the formulated herbal compound appeared to be effective in biochemical improvement and decreasing the grade of the fatty liver in the patients with NAFLD.

摘要：多项动物实验与临床试验均已证实多种草本制剂具有肝保护作用。本研究选取五种兼具强效抗氧化、抗炎及调脂作用的肝保护植物，制备复方草本制剂用于非酒精性脂肪性肝病（Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease，NAFLD）的干预治疗。将60名非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者按2:1的比例随机分为治疗组与对照组，两组患者均被要求保持健康饮食并进行规律运动。治疗组额外服用草本胶囊，每粒胶囊含400mg由莳萝（Anethum graveolens）、酸橙（Citrus aurantium）、洋蓟（Cynara scolymus）、马齿苋（Portulaca oleracea）及水飞蓟（Silybum marianum）组成的混合物，每日三次，每次两粒，连续服用两个月。本研究在试验开始前及治疗结束后，对患者实施肝脏超声检查及血清脂质、肝酶、血糖等生化指标检测。最终治疗组30名患者与对照组16名患者完成了本试验。结果显示，该复方草本制剂可显著降低患者血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（alanine transaminase，ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（aspartate transaminase，AST）及总胆固醇水平；同时可显著改善脂肪肝分级，但对照组患者的脂肪肝分级无明显变化。综上，本研究制备的复方草本制剂可有效改善非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者的生化指标，并降低其脂肪肝分级。