Millet Bran Protein Hydrolysate Displays the Anti-non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Effect via Activating Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ to Restrain Fatty Acid Uptake

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a serious health problem worldwide. Impeding fatty acid uptake may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for NAFLD. In the current study, we found that millet bran protein hydrolysate (MBPH) prepared by in vitro gastrointestinal bionic digestion exhibits the potential of anti-NAFLD in vitro and in vivo, characterized by the alleviation of hepatic steatosis and the reduction of lipid accumulation. Further, MBPH significantly decreased the expression levels of fatty acid uptake related genes (FABP1, FABP2, FABP4, CD36, and CPT-1α) of liver tissue in a NAFLD mice model through activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and efficiently restrained the fatty acid uptake of liver tissue, thus exerting anti-NAFLD activity. As expected, the anti-NAFLD effect induced by MBPH, characterized by the alleviation of hepatic vacuolar degeneration, hepatic steatosis, and fibrosis, was effectively abrogated with PPARγ inhibitor (GW9662) treatment. These results indicate that the retardant of fatty acid uptake induced by PPARγ activation may be the critical factor for the anti-NAFLD effect of MBPH. Collectively, MBPH has the potential as a next-generation dietary supplementation for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.