Gum arabic-coated urolithin A liposome nanoparticles: Fabrication, characterization, bioavailability and improved alleviation on NAFLD activity in vivo.

Abstract

Urolithin A (UroA), a gut microbiota-derived metabolite of ellagitannins, has diverse biological activities but suffers from low water solubility and poor bioavailability. To address these challenges, this study developed gum arabic (GA)-coated UroA liposomes (UA-LPs-GA). The GA coating significantly enhanced the encapsulation efficiency, stability, and bioaccessibility of UroA. Pharmacokinetic studies showed that UA-LPs-GA improved the relative oral bioavailability of UroA by 3.09-fold compared to free UroA. In a high-fat diet-induced mouse model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), UA-LPs-GA administration effectively alleviated key pathological features, including hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress, with superior efficacy to free UroA. Mechanistic studies revealed that the hepatoprotective effects were mediated through activation of the AMPK/Nrf2 signaling pathway. Additionally, UA-LPs-GA positively modulated the intestinal flora, enriching beneficial bacteria and suppressing harmful taxa. This study establishes a practical approach to enhance UroA delivery and provides a new strategy for using functional polysaccharides in advanced delivery systems for NAFLD management.