Structural characterisation of hawthorn polysaccharide and its mechanisms of action against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) represents a significant health risk to humans; however, effective pharmacological treatments are currently unavailable. Hawthorn polysaccharide (HP) possesses a range of beneficial properties that enhance cardiovascular health, diabetes management, antiviral activity, and antioxidant function. However, further investigations are required to clarify the anti-NAFLD effects of HP and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. In this study, we purified HP and characterised its structure. The anti-NAFLD effects of HP were evaluated in NAFLD-induced mice, and the underlying mechanisms were investigated using transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses. HP mainly consists of galacturonic acid, mannose, and galactose. The polymer chain is composed of α-D-galacturonic acid, with branched chains of α-D-galactose-α-L-rhamnose, α-D-galactose, and α-L-arabinose. HP reduced liver lipid levels and alleviated liver injury and fat accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Metabolomic analysis revealed that HP improved metabolic abnormalities by regulating tyrosine and inositol phosphate metabolism. Transcriptomic analysis showed that HP modulated metabolic pathways, including steroid and fatty acid metabolism, and immune function. These results suggest that HP ameliorates NAFLD through multi-pathway modulation, thus providing a potential therapeutic approach.