Protective effects of Crocin on hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and lipid profile in an animal model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Hossain Rezayee, Mohammad Ali Fahmidehkar, Farimah Beheshti, Mohsen Ghoryani, Yaser Yousefpoor, Dawood Hossaini, Davod IlbeigiObjective
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disorder worldwide. This study aims to investigate the effects of crocin on lipid profile, hepatic lipid accumulation, and antioxidant status in a rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver induced by a high-fat diet.
Materials and methods
Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into six groups, each containing seven rats. Fatty liver was induced by feeding a high-fat diet for eight weeks. Subsequently, the treatment groups received intraperitoneal crocin for four weeks. The groups were then evaluated for changes in serum lipid profiles, liver function enzymes in serum, oxidative stress biomarkers and histopathological alterations in liver tissue.
Results
High-fat diet feeding resulted in significant hepatic lipid accumulation, elevated serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase levels, increased hepatic malondialdehyde and nitrite concentrations, and impaired antioxidant enzyme activities. Histological analysis demonstrated hepatocellular steatosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatic structural alterations. Crocin treatment significantly attenuated lipid accumulation, normalized serum liver enzyme levels, reduced oxidative stress markers, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. Histopathological evaluation further confirmed marked improvement in liver tissue morphology.
Conclusion
The results of the present study demonstrate that Crocin exerts protective effects against NAFLD, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for diet-induced fatty liver disease.