Comparative Effect of Aqueous and Methanolic Bupleuri Radix Extracts on Hepatic Uptake of High-Density Lipoprotein and Identification of the Potential Target in HFD-Fed Mice

Figure 5

Upregulation of FGF21 was observed in the livers of HFD-fed mice treated with aqueous Bupleuri Radix extract. (a) Liver tissue morphology. Representative photomicrographs (magnification ×40) with hematoxylin-eosin stain. The administration group showed noticeable changes in steatosis and hepatocyte ballooning compared to the HFD group. (b) Results of RNA-sequencing analysis. The left panel was the volcano map of differentially expressed genes between the HFD and HFD/Bupleuri groups, FDR ≤ 0.001, log2 (Y/X) ≥ 1. Digging in the volcano map, FGF21 was found highly expressed in the livers of the HFD/Bupleuri group as shown in the right panel. (c) Western blotting test demonstrated the upregulation of FGF21 in the livers of the HFD/Bupleuri group. Liver tissues were collected and lysed with 2 × SDS sample buffer. β-Actin was used to show the same loading of the liver tissue. , compared to the HFD group.

(a)

(b)

(c)