Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) is a plant that has recently been used to treat the symptoms of menopause, by its actions on the central nervous system. However, little is known about its actions on disturbances in lipid metabolism and nonalcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD), frequently associated with menopause. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats exhibit increased adiposity and NAFLD 13 weeks after ovary removal and were used as animal models of estrogen deficiency. The rats were treated with crude extract (CE) and a butanolic fraction of VAC (ButF) and displayed the beneficial effects of a reduction in the adiposity index and a complete reversion of NAFLD. NAFLD reversion was accompanied by a general improvement in the liver redox status. The activities of some antioxidant enzymes were restored and the mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide production was significantly reduced in animals treated with CE and the ButF. It can be concluded that the CE and ButF from Vitex agnus-castus were effective in preventing NAFLD and oxidative stress, which are frequent causes of abnormal liver functions in the postmenopausal period.

GB (goji berry) has bioactive components capable of reversing the metabolic syndrome. This work investigated systemic, biometric and metabolic parameters of male rats fed with standard diet (group CD) or high-carbohydrate diet (group HC). At 90 days of age the HC group was subdivided: one was given vehicle solution (HCD) and the other was given GB extract (HCDGB), for 60 days. The vehicle was also given to the CD group. At 150 days of age, glucose tolerance test, tissue collection, plasmatic determinations, lipid content, in situ perfusion and oxidative stress of the liver were carried out. The GB supplementation improved the parameters of the metabolic syndrome caused by the HC diet, including decreased body weight gain, adiposity index, dyslipidemia, hyperinsulinemia, NAFLD, liver oxidative stress and gluconeogenesis. Together with the diminished insulin resistance, these results indicate the GB extract is an important adjuvant in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of agnuside (AGN), a phytoestrogen in Vitex agnus-castus, on cellular and metabolic alterations induced by ovariectomy in rats. Ovariectomized (OVX) Wistar rats were used as an animal model of postmenopausal metabolic syndrome. The visceral and subcutaneous adipocyte sizes, the peripheral insulin sensitivity and the occurrence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and liver oxidative damage were evaluated. The results were compared with those obtained from control rats (sham-operated) and OVX rats treated daily with AGN. Obese OVX rats exhibited visceral adipocyte hypertrophy and developed glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia, NAFLD and dyslipidemia. AGN exerted beneficial effects on several metabolic parameters in OVX rats, including the improvement in glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia and NAFLD. Besides, AGN promoted a general improvement in the liver redox state. Although the reduction of the mesenteric adipocyte size is very likely to be an important mode of action of AGN, some actions of AGN could also involve the interaction with estrogen receptors.