The synergistic effect of Citrus bergamia and Cynara cardunculus extracts on vascular inflammation and oxidative stress in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

10.1016/j.jtcme.2020.02.004

Vincenzo Musolino；Micaela Gliozzi；Ezio Bombardelli；Saverio Nucera；Cristina Carresi；Jessica Maiuolo；Rocco Mollace；Sara Paone；Francesca Bosco；Federica Scarano；Miriam Scicchitano；Roberta Macrì；Stefano Ruga；Maria Caterina Zito；Ernesto Palma；Santo Gratteri；Monica Ragusa；Maurizio Volterrani；Massimo Fini；Vincenzo Mollace

Bergamot polyphenols ； Cynaropicrin ； NAFLD ； T2DM ； Vascular injury ； Endothelial impairment

Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine

10卷3期（2020 / 05 / 01）

268 - 274

英文

Background and aim: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) represents a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. NAFLD is worsened by the simultaneous occurrence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) causing an enhancement of inflammatory and fibrotic processes. Although insulin resistance appears the link between NAFLD and T2DM, current pharmacological treatments of T2DM failed to produce relevant benefits in preventing T2DM-related liver dysfunction. In this randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, we evaluated the effect of Bergacyn, an innovative formulation originating from the combination of Bergamot Polyphenolic Fraction (BPF) and Cynara cardunculus (CyC). Experimental procedure: 80 adult patients with a history of at least 12 months of T2DM and NAFLD received orally BPF (300 mg/daily) Cyc (300 mg/daily), separately or formulated in combination 50/50% (Bergacyn; 300 mg/daily), or placebo all containing 300 mg of bergamot albedo fibers micronized and cogrinded as excipients. Results and conclusion: Serum measurements and liver ultrasound analyses showed that concomitant administration of BPF and CyC produced significant improvement of NAFLD biomarkers in patients with T2DM. This effect was associated with a substantial reduction of oxidative stress/inflammatory biomarkers, thus contributing to a significant improvement of NO-mediated reactive vasodilation. Furthermore, the effect of Bergacyn showed a synergistic effect of both extracts, thus suggesting that this peculiar formulation represents a novel therapeutic strategy to counteract vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in patients suffering from T2DM and NAFLD. Further studies in larger cohort of diabetic patients are required to better identify the potential of Bergacyn on metabolic disorders accompanying T2DM and NAFLD.

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