Effects and mechanism of action of Chrysanthemum morifolium (Jinsi Huangju) on hyperlipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

As a popular healthy tea beverage, Jinsi Huangju has been consumed in China for hundreds of years. However, its active ingredients which dissolved in hot water have not been fully determined. In this study, 14 compounds were identified by different spectroscopic techniques, including 11 compounds identified in this plant for the first time. For in-depth studies, apigenin-7-O-6″-malonylglucoside (8) and luteolin-7-O-6″-malonylglucoside (9) were synthesized for the first time by 5 steps in 1.2% overall yields. Further analyses of the natural compounds showed that 8 could inhibit pancreatic lipase, reduce cellular lipid contents, and attenuate insulin resistance in vitro. Furthermore, 8 restore lipid and inflammatory profiles in the plasma and liver (TG, TC, ALT, AST, LDL-C, HDL-C, MPO, and IL-6) and attenuated hepatic steatosis in NAFLD mouse models. In conclusion, Jinsi Huangju and its active ingredients are candidates for developing drug, functional foods and therapeutic strategies for hyperlipidaemia and NAFLD.