Hepatoprotective effects of Erythrina abyssinica Lam Ex Dc against Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Sprague Dawley Rats

ABSTRACT Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NFLD) is the hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome recognized as the most prevalent chronic liver disease across all age groups. NFLD is strongly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension and dyslipidemia. Extensive research efforts are geared, through pharmacological approach, towards preventing or reversing this. Erythrina abyssinica Lam ex DC is an indigenous tree used widely used in traditional medicine, including for the treatment of liver related diseases, and has been shown to possess hypoglycemic, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial and anti-plasmodia effects. present study is aimed at establishing the effects of E. abyssinica on the development of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease induced by a high-fat and high-sugar diet in rats, in-vivo model. Methods: Forty rats (40) were randomly divided into five groups: positive control (pioglitazone), Negative control (high fat/high sugar diet), low test dose (200 mg/kg), high test dose (400 mg/kg) and normal group (standard chow pellets and fresh water).The inhibitory effect of the stem bark extract of E. abyssinica on the development of NAFLD was evaluated by chronic administration the herb extracts to rats on a high-fat/high-sugar diet. Biochemical indices of hepatic function including serum lipid profile, serum aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase levels were then determined. analysis of liver samples was carried out to quantify the degree of steato-hepatitis. Liver weights were taken and used to determine the hepatic index. data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and Tukey9s post-hoc tests were done in cases of significance. Histology data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn9s post-hoc test was done in cases of significance. Significance was set at pu003c0.05.Results: freeze dried extract of E. abyssinica had significant effects on fasting blood glucose [5.43 ± 0.17 (HF/HSD) vs 3.8 ± 0.15 (E 400 mg/kg) vs 4.54 ± 0.09 (E 200 mg/kg) vs. 4.16 ± 0.13 (PIOG) vs. 2.91 ± 0.16 (normal control): P value u003c 0.0001], and insulin sensitivity [329.4 ± 13.48 mmol/L · min (HF/HSD) vs. 189.8 ± 12.11 mmol/L · min (E 400 mg/kg) vs. 233.8 ± 6.55 mmol/L · min (E 200 mg/kg) vs. 211.1 ± 7.35 mmol/L · min (PIOG) vs. 142.9 ± 11.94 mmol/L · min: P value u003c 0.0001], The extract had significant effects on hepatic indices including, hepatic triglycerides (P value u003c 0.0001), liver weights (P value u003c 0.0001), liver weight-body weight ratio (P value u003c 0.0001), serum ALT levels (P value u003c 0.0001), serum AST (P value u003c 0.0017), serum total cholesterol (P value u003c 0.0001), serum triglycerides (P value u003c 0.0001), and serum LDL-cholesterol (P value u003c 0.0001). extracts however showed no significant effects on HDL-cholesterol (P value = 0.4759). Histological analysis showed that the extract appears to possess protective effects against steatosis, inflammation and hepatic ballooning, with the high dose (400mg/kg) being more hepato-protective. Conclusion:The freeze dried stem bark extract of Erythina abyssinica possesses significant inhibitory effects against the development of NAFLD in Sprague Dawley rats.