title: Quercetin decreases liver damage in mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.
abstract: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a frequent condition in obese patients that may progress to end-stage liver disease. This study was designed to evaluate the modulation of this condition by use of quercetin (Q), a flavonoid largely found in vegetable foods, with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, in the experimental model of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) using a diet deficient in methionine and choline (MCD). Male C57BL6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 16): (i) Control plus vehicle (control ration plus carboxymethylcellulose 1% used as vehicle, CO + V); (ii) Control ration plus Q 50 mg/kg (CO + Q); (iii) MCD diet plus vehicle (NASH + V); and (iv) MCD diet plus Q (NASH + Q). Diets were administered for 4 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, liver alterations, bioindicators of oxidative stress and DNA damage were assessed. NASH was diagnosed in 100% of the mice that were fed the MCD diet. In addition, a significant increase in DNA damage in liver tissue from NASH + V group was observed in comparison with CO + V. The group NASH + Q showed a significant decrease in hepatic damage enzymes, lipoperoxidation, DNA damage and a lower degree of macrovesicular steatosis, ballooning and inflammatory process. These findings suggest that Q may have protective effects by improving liver integrity in NASH.
authors: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors: Eder
authors: E
authors: Marcolin
authors: Luiz Felipe
authors: LF
authors: Forgiarini
authors: Graziella
authors: G
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Juliana
authors: J
authors: Tieppo
authors: Greice Stefani
authors: GS
authors: Borghetti
authors: Valquiria Linck
authors: VL
authors: Bassani
authors: Jaqueline Nascimento
authors: JN
authors: Picada
authors: Norma Possa
authors: NP
authors: Marroni
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002796:Choline Deficiency; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects; D004032:Diet; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000172:deficiency; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D011794:Quercetin; D008715:Methionine