Teucrium polium in prevention of steatohepatitis in rats.
BACKGROUND
In this study, we tried to evaluate whether the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Teucrium polium, with a high antioxidant activity, is able to prevent the incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.


METHODS
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was induced in male N-Mary rats using a methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet. Rats were given normal diet (A), normal diet+EtOAc extract (B), MCD diet (C) and MCD diet+EtOAc (D).


RESULTS
The MCD diet led to grade 1 liver steatosis, inflammation and ballooning degeneration. In group D, these factors abated to grade 0 in 80% of the rats. In groups receiving the EtOAc extract, lipoprotein profiles had significantly improved relative to those not receiving the extract. Also, a dramatic reduction was observed in the sera alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminoteransferase activities. The activities of the liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes were also enhanced.


CONCLUSIONS
The EtOAc extract could reverse the adverse effects of the MCD diet.
Amini
Rahim
R
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Nosrati
Narges
N
Yazdanparast
Razieh
R
Molaei
Mahsa
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002796:Choline Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000172:deficiency; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D031367:Teucrium
D000975:Antioxidants; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010936:Plant Extracts; C040618:teucrium extract; D008715:Methionine; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase