Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems

Abstract Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a serious public health concern. Given the paucity of approved therapeutic strategies for this lifestyle disorder, dietary interventions may prove effective. We evaluated the mechanisms of how green jackfruit flour (JF) ame...

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Main Authors: Diwakar Suresh, Bharathwaaj Gunaseelan, Akshatha N. Srinivas, Amith Bharadwaj, James Joseph, Megha, Thomas Varughese, Suchitha Satish, Deepak Suvarna, Prasanna K. Santhekadur, Saravana Babu Chidambaram, Ajay Duseja, Divya P. Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96944-1
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author Diwakar Suresh
Bharathwaaj Gunaseelan
Akshatha N. Srinivas
Amith Bharadwaj
James Joseph
Megha
Thomas Varughese
Suchitha Satish
Deepak Suvarna
Prasanna K. Santhekadur
Saravana Babu Chidambaram
Ajay Duseja
Divya P. Kumar
author_facet Diwakar Suresh
Bharathwaaj Gunaseelan
Akshatha N. Srinivas
Amith Bharadwaj
James Joseph
Megha
Thomas Varughese
Suchitha Satish
Deepak Suvarna
Prasanna K. Santhekadur
Saravana Babu Chidambaram
Ajay Duseja
Divya P. Kumar
author_sort Diwakar Suresh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a serious public health concern. Given the paucity of approved therapeutic strategies for this lifestyle disorder, dietary interventions may prove effective. We evaluated the mechanisms of how green jackfruit flour (JF) ameliorates metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and halts the progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study used murine models of MASH and MASH-HCC that closely mimic human MASLD. C57Bl/6 male mice were fed with chow or western diet with normal or sugar water for 12 weeks, then randomized to receive either 5 kcal% green jackfruit flour (JF) or an equal volume of placebo flour (PB). JF significantly reduced body weight, liver injury, and insulin resistance, and alleviated obesity, steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and tumor development in WDSW or WDSW/CCl4 mice compared to placebo. Furthermore, JF activated AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and inhibited MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathways in MASH and MASH-HCC models, respectively. Sodium propionate treatment, the primary short-chain fatty acid entering the liver from JF’s soluble fiber microbial fermentation, further supported these mechanistic insights. Hence, our findings present strong evidence of JF’s therapeutic potential in attenuating MASH and MASH-HCC, warranting further investigation of JF’s efficacy as a dietary intervention in clinical trials.
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spelling doaj-art-2fc1c95a397a4e3bb2e84847d02e44c02025-08-20T02:28:04ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111910.1038/s41598-025-96944-1Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systemsDiwakar Suresh0Bharathwaaj Gunaseelan1Akshatha N. Srinivas2Amith Bharadwaj3James Joseph4Megha5Thomas Varughese6Suchitha Satish7Deepak Suvarna8Prasanna K. Santhekadur9Saravana Babu Chidambaram10Ajay Duseja11Divya P. Kumar12Department of Biochemistry, CEMR Laboratory, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Biochemistry, CEMR Laboratory, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Biochemistry, CEMR Laboratory, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Biochemistry, CEMR Laboratory, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchGod’s Own Food Solutions Pvt LtdCentre For Ayurveda Biology and Holistic Nutrition, University of Transdisciplinary Health Sciences and TechnologyDepartment of Surgical Oncology, St. Joseph’s Hospital TrustDepartment of Pathology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Gastroenterology, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Biochemistry, CEMR Laboratory, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Pharmacology, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchDepartment of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & ResearchDepartment of Biochemistry, CEMR Laboratory, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchAbstract Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a serious public health concern. Given the paucity of approved therapeutic strategies for this lifestyle disorder, dietary interventions may prove effective. We evaluated the mechanisms of how green jackfruit flour (JF) ameliorates metabolic-dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and halts the progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The study used murine models of MASH and MASH-HCC that closely mimic human MASLD. C57Bl/6 male mice were fed with chow or western diet with normal or sugar water for 12 weeks, then randomized to receive either 5 kcal% green jackfruit flour (JF) or an equal volume of placebo flour (PB). JF significantly reduced body weight, liver injury, and insulin resistance, and alleviated obesity, steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and tumor development in WDSW or WDSW/CCl4 mice compared to placebo. Furthermore, JF activated AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase) and inhibited MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling pathways in MASH and MASH-HCC models, respectively. Sodium propionate treatment, the primary short-chain fatty acid entering the liver from JF’s soluble fiber microbial fermentation, further supported these mechanistic insights. Hence, our findings present strong evidence of JF’s therapeutic potential in attenuating MASH and MASH-HCC, warranting further investigation of JF’s efficacy as a dietary intervention in clinical trials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96944-1NAFLDNASHMASLDLiver injuryInflammationMetabolic syndrome
spellingShingle Diwakar Suresh
Bharathwaaj Gunaseelan
Akshatha N. Srinivas
Amith Bharadwaj
James Joseph
Megha
Thomas Varughese
Suchitha Satish
Deepak Suvarna
Prasanna K. Santhekadur
Saravana Babu Chidambaram
Ajay Duseja
Divya P. Kumar
Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems
Scientific Reports
NAFLD
NASH
MASLD
Liver injury
Inflammation
Metabolic syndrome
title Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems
title_full Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems
title_fullStr Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems
title_full_unstemmed Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems
title_short Green jackfruit flour ameliorates MASH and development of HCC via the AMPK and MAPK signaling pathways in experimental model systems
title_sort green jackfruit flour ameliorates mash and development of hcc via the ampk and mapk signaling pathways in experimental model systems
topic NAFLD
NASH
MASLD
Liver injury
Inflammation
Metabolic syndrome
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96944-1
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