A histomorphometric study on the hepatoprotective effects of a green rooibos extract in a diet-induced obese rat model |
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Authors: | J.I. Layman D.L. Pereira N. Chellan B. Huisamen S.H. Kotzé |
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Affiliation: | 1. Division of Clinical Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa;2. Division of Medical Physiology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa;3. Biomedical Research and Innovation Platform, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, South Africa |
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Abstract: | Obesity, type two diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance are associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Unfermented green rooibos is an aspalathin rich variant of traditional fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and has a high polyphenol content. The present study aimed to determine the histologically observable effects of a commercially produced, aspalathin-rich green rooibos extract, Afriplex GRT? (GRE) in a diet-induced obese rat model. Male Wistar rats (N = 28) were randomly assigned to four study groups (n = 7): control (C), green rooibos (GRT), high-fat diet (HFD) and experimental (HFD-GRT) group. Body mass was determined prior to euthanasia and liver mass was determined after death. The left lateral lobe of the liver was processed to wax and stained using haematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Masson’s trichrome stain, Gordons and Sweet’s reticulin impregnation and periodic acid-Schiff stain. Frozen liver tissue sections were used for Oil red O staining. Morphometric quantification of steatosis, semiquantitative pathology grading and scoring were performed and verified by a veterinary histopathologist. A significant increase in body and liver mass was observed in the HFD groups while co-treatment with green rooibos significantly reduced both. The volume and area of steatosis were significantly increased in the HFD groups while the area of steatosis significantly reduced with green rooibos co-treatment. The percentage, location and type of steatosis as well as presence of inflammation and hepatocellular injury were reduced in the HFD group co-treated with GRE. These findings suggest that a GRE has potential as an anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory and weight reducing agent in vivo. |
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Keywords: | Corresponding author: Division: Clinical Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Stellenbosch, P.O. Box 241, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa. ANOVA analysis of variance BM body mass CV central vein C control animals GRE Afriplex GRT? extract GRT Afriplex GRT? treated animals GMP good manufacturing practice GPx glutathione peroxidase HFD high-fat diet H & E haematoxylin and eosin stain LSD least significant difference N study population n sample size NAFLD non-alcoholic fatty liver disease NAS non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score NASH non-alcoholic steatohepatitis PAS periodic acid Schiff PT portal triad RGB red/green/blue colour segmentation ROS reactive oxygen species SOD superoxide dismutase % percent Unfermented rooibos Hepatic steatosis Liver histology Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease |
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