Hepatoprotective effects of Cassia semen ethanol extract on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in experimental rat

Context: Cassia semen (Cs), a seed of Cassia obtusifolia L. (Leguminosae), is a popular functional beverage. Previous studies reported that Cs displayed antioxidant, antifungal and strong liver protective effects.

Objective: This study evaluates the hepatoprotective effects of Cs on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Materials and methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats raised with high-fat diet (HFD) were randomly allotted into model, metformin (0.2?g/kg) and Cs (0.5, 1, and 2?g/kg)-treated groups. Another 12 rats were raised with normal feed as control group; all the rats were orally administrated with drugs and vehicle for 6?weeks. Alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) mRNA levels were measured at the end of the experiment.

Results: Twelve weeks of HFD administration significantly increased the levels of AST, ALT, TG, TC, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and MDA, decreased SOD (199.42 vs. 137.70?U/mg protein) and GSH (9.76 vs. 4.55?mg/g protein) contents, compared to control group. Cs administration group significantly decreased the elevated biomarkers with the ED₅₀?=?1.2?g/kg for NAFLD rats. Cs treatment also prevents the decreased expression of LDL-R mRNA, and improved the histopathological changes compared to model group.

Conclusions: The hepatoprotective effect of Cs on NAFLD may possibly be due to its antioxidant effect. Cs may become a potent hepatoprotective agent in clinical therapy in the future.