Curcumin analog CUR5–8 ameliorates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity

Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) occurs when excess fat storage in the liver and it is strongly linked with metabolic syndrome including obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Curcumin5–8 (CUR5–8) is a synthetic derivative of naturally active curcumin (CUR) that has anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated the effects of CUR5–8, a novel CUR analog, on hepatic steatosis in mice with high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Methods: Based on their diets for 13 weeks, the mice were categorized into the following six groups: regular diet (RD, n = 10), RD with CUR (RD + CUR, 100 mg/kg/day, n = 10), RD with CUR5–8 (RD + CUR5–8, 100 mg/kg/day, n = 10), high-fat diet-induced obese mice (HFD, n = 10), HFD with CUR (HFD + CUR, 100 mg/kg/day, n = 10), and HFD with CUR5–8 (HFD + CUR5–8, 100 mg/kg/day, n = 10) for 13 weeks. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of the sections revealed hepatic steatosis. Results: CUR5–8 administration prevented increase in body and liver weights in mice with HFD-induced obesity. Compared to the HFD group, insulin resistance was significantly improved in the HFD + CUR5–8 group. Serum alanine aminotransferase level, which is an indicator of liver damage, was also decreased after CUR5–8 administration. H&E staining revealed that CUR5–8 treatment decreased hepatic steatosis in mice with HFD-induced obesity. Interestingly, CUR5–8, and not CUR, decreased the elevated liver triglyceride level induced by the HFD. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CUR5–8 ameliorates insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in mice with HFD-induced obesity.