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.
Keywords: High-fat diet; IL-6; IL-8; TNF-α; antioxidant; low density lipoprotein receptor.