Basic Research
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2006; 12(27): 4359-4363
Published online Jul 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i27.4359
Experimental study of osthole on treatment of hyperlipidemic and alcoholic fatty liver in animals
Fang Song, Mei-Lin Xie, Lu-Jia Zhu, Ke-Ping Zhang, Jie Xue, Zhen-Lun Gu
Fang Song, Mei-Lin Xie, Lu-Jia Zhu, Ke-Ping Zhang, Jie Xue, Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
Zhen-Lun Gu, Suzhou Institute of Chinese Marteria Medica, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China
Correspondence to: Mei-Lin Xie, Department of Pharmacology, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu Province, China. xiemeilin@suda.edu.cn
Telephone: +86-512-65880320
Received: December 14, 2005
Revised: December 28, 2005
Accepted: January 16, 2006
Published online: July 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effects of osthole on fatty liver, and investigate the possible mechanism.

METHODS: A quail model with hyperlipidemic fatty liver and rat model with alcoholic fatty liver were set up by feeding high fat diet and alcohol, respectively. These experimental animals were then treated with osthole 5-20 mg/kg for 6 wk, respectively. Whereafter, the lipid in serum and hepatic tissue, and coefficient of hepatic weight were measured.

RESULTS: After treatment with osthole the levels of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), lower density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), coefficient of hepatic weight, and the hepatic tissue contents of TC and TG were significantly decreased. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in liver was improved. In alcohol-induced fatty liver rats, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver was decreased. In high fat-induced fatty liver quails, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) in liver was significantly improved. The histological evaluation of liver specimens demonstrated that the osthole dramatically decreased lipid accumulation.

CONCLUSION: These results suggested that osthole had therapeutic effects on both alcohol and high fat-induced fatty liver. The mechanism might be associated with its antioxidation.

Keywords: Hyperlipidemic fatty liver; Alcoholic fatty liver; Osthole; Quails; Rats