Protection effect of trigonelline on liver of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To study the effect of trigonelline on the change of indicators of serum transaminase, lipoprotein and liver lipid of model rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases and on the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.@*METHODS@#A total of 45 SD rats were randomly divided into the control group, model group and trigonelline intervention group. Rats in the control group were fed with the common diet, while rats in the model group and intervention group were fed with the high fat diet. 8 weeks later, the intervention group received the intragastric administration of trigonellin e (with the dosage of 40 mg/kg/d) for 8 weeks; while control group and model group received the intragastric administration of saline with the equal dosage. Blood was taken from the abdominal aorta of rats 8 weeks later, detecting the level of a series of indicators of ALT, AST, TG, TC, HDL-C and LDL-C in the serum. After the rats were sacrificed, detect the indicators of TG, TC, SOD and MDA in the liver tissue of rats, as well as the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the liver tissue.@*RESULTS@#Results of histopathologic examination showed that the damage degree of liver for rats in the trigonelline intervention group was smaller than the one in the model group, with significantly reduced hepatic steatosis and the partially visible hepatic lobule. The levels of ALT, AST, TC and LDL-C in the serum of rats in the trigonelline group were significantly reduced, while the change in the levels of TG and HDL-C was not significantly different. The levels of TG, TC and MDA in the liver tissues were significantly decreased, while the level of SOD significantly increased; the expression of Bcl-2 protein in the liver tissues of rats in the trigonelline intervention group was significantly increased, while the expression of Bax protein significantly decreased.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The trigonelline contributes to the therapeutic effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases. It can also increase the expression of Bcl-2 protein and decrease the expression of Bax protein in the liver tissues, which can protect the liver.