Anti-steatotic effects of Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis gaditana and Gracilaria vermiculophylla algae extracts in AML-12 hepatocytes

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most common chronic liver alteration whose prevalence is increasing in Western countries. Microalgae and macroalgae have attracted great interest due to the high content in bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on health. The aim of the present study is to assess the potential interest of extracts rich in proteins obtained from the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris and Nannochloropsis gaditana and the macroalga Gracilaria vermiculophylla in the prevention of lipid accumulation in AML-12 hepatocytes. Toxicity was not observed at any of the tested doses. Both microalgae and the macroalga were effective in preventing triglyceride accumulation, with Nannochloropsis gaditana being the most effective one. Although the three algae extracts were able to increase different catabolic pathways involved in triglyceride metabolism, the mechanisms underlying the anti-steatotic effect were different in each algae extract. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that Chlorella vulgaris, Nannochloropsis gaditana and Gracilaria vermiculophylla extracts are able to partially prevent the accumulation of triglycerides induced by palmitic acid in cultured hepatocytes, a model used to mimic the steatosis induced in liver by dietary patterns rich in saturated fat.

This study was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (CIBERobn) under Grant CB12/03/30007, the Government of the Basque Country under Grants KK-2019-00031 and IT1482-22, the Grant TED2021-129711B-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, as appropriate, by “ERDF A way of making Europe”, by the “European Union” or by the “European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR”.

Peer reviewed