Background:
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a considerable public health concern due to the excessive dietary consumption of high caloric diet and subsequent obesity. Additionally, splenectomy is considered as one of major common risk factor for NAFLD.
Objective:
Regardless of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) being the most common chronic disorder, there are no effective cure for it. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate Holothuria arenicola extract (HaE) efficacy on hepatic steatosis in splenectomized (SPX) rats fed High fat diet (HFD).
Methods:
Male Wistar rats (n=28) were randomly assigned to four groups: sham rats fed a standard diet, sham rats+ HFD, SPX+HFD and SPX+HFD+HaE. The estimation of hematological and some biochemical parameters as well as oxidative status were analyzed. Results: Oral administration of HaE caused a significant amelioration in all hematological parameters relative to untreated splenectomized rats. Concerning lipid metabolism, HaE treatment caused a pronounced amelioration in lipid metabolism, as indicated by the decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol contents as well as the increased HDL- cholesterol level. HaE treatment significantly enhanced hepatic function, as exhibited by the reduction in liver enzyme activities as well as the increase of protein and albumin content. Moreover, HaE could retard the hepatic oxidative stress via a pronounced increase in hepatic GSH content and antioxidant enzyme activities besides decreasing in MDA, NO and H2O2 formation.
Conclusion:
HaE could be utilized as a potential alternative hepatoprotective remedy via lipid metabolism and oxidative damage attenuation.