BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for treating fatty liver and, more particularly, to a method for treating fatty liver using an aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook..

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] Fatty liver is a condition wherein vacuoles of triglyceride accumulate in hepatocytes via the process of steatosis. Fatty liver is usually considered in association with obese, diabetes and dyslipidemia.

[0003] Currently, there is no effective treatment for fatty liver. Clinically, the accumulation of fat in the liver can only be decreased by the reduction of high-fat diet intake and weight loss. In light of this, it is necessary to develop a method for treating fatty liver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a method for treating fatty liver by using an aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook.

[0005] One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for treating fatty liver in a subject in need thereof. The method includes administering an effective amount of an aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, to the subject. The aqueous extract is obtained by extracting a sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, by water under 0.35-0.5 Kg/cm ² G and 115-125°C for 1.5-3 hours. Preferably, the aqueous extract is orally administered to the subject, and is administered to the subject in the effective amount of 2.5 mL/kg/day. Accordingly, with the active substances obtained from the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook., the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention shows ability of decreasing the elevation in liver function parameters, as well as reducing the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes, induced by high-fat diet. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be applied to treating fatty liver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0007] FIG. la depicts a grouped scatter plot illustrating levels of GOT/AST in plasma from mice of groups A0-A2 after being orally administrated by placebo (groups AO-Al) or by the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention (group A2) in trial (A).

[0008] FIG. lb depicts a grouped scatter plot illustrating levels of GPT/ALT in plasma from mice of groups A0-A2 after being orally administrated by placebo (groups A0-A1) or by the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention (group A2) in trial (A).

[0009] FIGS. 2a-2c depict histological images illustrating the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes in the histological sections of liver stained with hematoxylin and eosin from mice of groups B0-B2, respectively, after being orally administrated by placebo (groups B0-B1) or by the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention (group B2) in trial (B).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, is a plant which belongs to the family of Aspleniaceae and the genus of Asplenium. The young emerging frond of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, is one kind of edible leaves.

[0011] An aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook. according to the present invention shows ability of decreasing the elevation in liver function parameters, as well as reducing the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes, induced by high-fat diet. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be applied to treat fatty liver. The aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be used individually, or in combination with pharmaceutical acceptable vehicles, excipients, salts or other nutrients, being in a composite. In addition, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be further manufactured into any oral type that is easy to take, such as pastil, capsule, powder, pill, solution, or fermented products. Yet, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be combined with other food products or drinks, being manufactured into a more convenient type for taking.

[0012] In addition, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention can be administered to a subject in need thereof. As an example, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention can be administered in an effective amount of 2.5 mL/kg/day. As such, the active substances in the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can decrease the elevation in liver function parameters, as well as reduce the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes, induced by the high-fat diet.

[0013] The aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be preferably obtained by a method including the following steps: providing a sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook.; extracting the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, by water as an extractant to obtain a rough extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook.; and concentrating the rough extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, to obtain the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook..

[0014] Specifically, the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be the 3 -year-old mature frond with spores on the underside thereof. The sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be preferably dried in advance at 110-120 C to obtain a dried sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook. (100 grams of the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, are dried into 20 grams of the dried sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook.). Besides, the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can also be milled to a size ranging from 1 to 2 mm in advance as well. With such performance, the contacting surface area of the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, with water is increased, and therefore, the efficiency of the extraction is also increased.

[0015] In an example, 4.8 kilograms of the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be mixed with the extractant until the overall volume of the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, and the extractant is 80 liters. The sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, is then extracted under 0.35-0.5 Kg/cm ² G and 115-125°C for 1.5-3 hours. The extraction process can be repeated several times, assuring the active substances of the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be completely dissolved in the extractant, which can be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art.

[0016] Furthermore, the rough extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook., can be further concentrated by concentration under reduced pressure and lyophilization to obtain the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook.. The active substances of the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, are further concentrated. The preferable efficacy for treating fatty liver will be achieved by only a limited amount of the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook..

[0017] To validate the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention can be used to effectively decreasing the elevation in liver function parameters, as well as reducing the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes, induced by the high-fat diet, the rough extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, obtained from 4.8 kilograms of the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, is concentrated by concentration under reduced pressure and lyophilization to form the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, in form of powder (800 grams). The aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, in form of powder (5 grams) is dissolved in water (20 mL), and the following trial is carried out.

[0018] Trial (A).

[0019] Male C57BL/6 mice (20-22 grams) are used as the animal model in trial (A). Referring to TABLE 1, the high-fat diet in which 60% of its calories come from fat is orally administrated to the mice of group Al for 18 weeks (once a day). The high-fat diet in combination with the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, is orally administrated to the mice of group A2 for 18 weeks (once a day). 18 weeks later, bloods are collected from the mice of groups A0-A2 by cardiac puncture for plasma preparation. The liver function parameters (GOT/ AST and GPT/ALT) in plasma of the mice of groups A0-A2 are shown in FIGS. la and lb, respectively. TABLE 1

[0020] Referring to FIGS, la and lb, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) in a dosage of 2.5 mL/kg can effectively decrease the elevation in levels of GOT/AST, as well as in levels of GPT/ALT, induced by the high-fat diet (group A2).

[0021] Trial (B).

[0022] Male C57BL/6 mice are also used as the animal model in trial (B). Referring to TABLE 2, the high-fat diet in which 60% of its calories comes from fat is orally administrated to the mice of group B l for 18 weeks (once a day). The high-fat diet in combination with the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, is orally administrated to the mice of group B2 for 18 weeks (once a day). 12 hours later, the mice of groups B0-B2 are sacrificed, and histological sections of liver from the mice of groups B0-B2 are stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E staining), as shown in FIGS.

TABLE 2

[0023] Referring to FIG. 2b, the histological section of liver from the mice of group Bl displays the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes. The phenomenon is reversed by oral administration of the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) in the dosage of 2.5 mL/kg (group B2), indicating that the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention can effectively reduce the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes induced by the high-fat diet.

[0024] Accordingly, with the active substances obtained from the sample of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook., the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, according to the present invention shows ability of decreasing the elevation in liver function parameters, as well as reducing the accumulation of vacuoles in hepatocytes, induced by the high-fat diet. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Asplenium australasicum (J. Sm.) Hook, can be applied to treating fatty liver.

[0025] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to its presently preferable embodiment, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.