Protective effects of the herbal medicine goshajinkigan in a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effect of an herbal medicine-goshajinkigan (GJ)-on the regulation of total body weight, as well as liver and adipose tissue weights in rats fed a highfat diet (HFD) and drinking of 30% sucrose (HFDS) (HFD; the rats received 19.6% energy from carbohydrates, 18.2% from proteins, and 62.2% from lipids; total energy, 506 kcal/100 g). Control rats were fed a standard diet (the rats received 60.5% energy from carbohydrates, 26.2% from proteins, and 13.3% from lipids; total energy, 360 kcal/100 g). Over a period of 12 weeks, rats were allowed free access to either the standard diet or HFDS containing 0, 1, or 3% GJ. In comparison with the control group, the HFDS rats showed a significant decrease in overall body weight and adipose tissue weight, and an increase in liver weight at 12 weeks. GJ treatment significantly reversed the HFDS-induced decrease in body and adipose tissue weight and reduced the elevated liver weight dose-dependently. Similarly, GJ reduced the elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase levels observed in HFDS rats. These results suggest that GJ may have the potential to alleviate damage to the liver in subjects with long-term consumption of HFDS.

Comparison of Three Different Diet-Induced Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Protocols in Rats: A Pilot Study

“…22 These inconsistent results could be due to the design of the studies and different variables included the quantity and quality of dietary fat, the fatty acid and other dietary compositions, age of animals, period of feeding and route of fructose or sucrose administration, such as in the diet 19 or water. 20,25 Fructose, sucrose, HFCS or cholesterol-enriched diets or a westernized diet are other dietary models to induce NAFLD in laboratory animals. 11 Some evidences, but not all, suggest that a westernized diet may lead to a severe stage of NAFLD than just feeding a fructose or fat rich diet.…”