COMBINED METFORMIN AND NARINGIN REVERSES THE METABOLIC ALTERATIONS OF THE NONALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE IN EXPERIMENTAL METABOLIC SYNDROME

RIZZI MA; MAZO TM; PASQUALINI ME; TOLOSA DE TALAMONI N; RODRÍGUEZ V

Mar del Plata

Congreso; Reunión Anual de Sociedades de Biociencia; 2022

SAIC

The fructose rich diet (FRD) causes metabolic alterations that resemble metabolic syndrome (MS), which are associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Metformin (Met), is a medicine of first line for the treatment of insulin resistance associated with MS. However, it presents adverse reactions and side effects. Naringin (NAR) is a flavonoid with antioxidant, antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this work was to know the effect of Met+NAR on the metabolic systemic variables and histological alterations in the liver of animals with MS. Male Wistar rats were divided in 5 groups: 1) controls; 2) rats fed FRD 10% (w/v) in drinking water for 60 days; 3) FRD rats treated with Met (100 mg/kg b.w.); 4) FRD rats treated with NAR (40 mg/kg b.w.); 5) FRD rats treated with Met+NAR. Treatments started from day 21 of FRD administration. Body weight, waist circumference and biochemical parameters were measured. The adiposity and hepatosomatic index (HSI), and histomorphometric studies were accomplished in liver. ANOVA/Bonferroni was used for statistical analysis. The body weight and waist circumference s were significantly higher in FRD rats compared to those from the control rats, while all treatments decreased waist circumference. Adiposity and HSI increased in FRD rats as compared to those from control rats; however, they were reversed with Met+NAR. The increase in the serum values of triglycerides and AST of FRD rats was completely abrogated by NAR and Met+NAR treatments. FRD rats showed ballooning of hepatocytes with steatosis and dilatation of the portal space and fibrosis. Only the combined treatment reversed these alterations. In conclusion, FRD causes systemic metabolic changes, and body and histological alterations. Since the combined treatment reverses the biochemical parameters and histological alterations as well as the liver fibrosis, it constitutes a new therapeutic alternative for NAFLD.