Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver ailment, which prevalence
has increased significantly in recent decades. NAFLD is associated with high lipid
accumulation in hepatocytes and has been associated with obesity. Naringin (NAR),
a natural bioflavonoid found in citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, has
anti-hyperglycaemic and antioxidant effects and may reduce hepatic lipid accumulation.
Thus, NAR may be a potential treatment for NAFLD. The present study aimed to investigate
the effect of NAR in a 45% fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD rat model. A total of 47 male
Wistar-Hannover rats were divided into 5 groups: 1) control (CTRL), 2) high-fat diet
(HFD 45%), 3) carboxymethyl-cellulose (CMC), 4) naringin 40 mg/kg (NAR1 + HFD), 5)
naringin 80 mg/kg (NAR2 + HFD). NAR was prepared with a CMC vehicle in the form of
suspension and was administered orally by gavage needle daily for 4 weeks.
Our histopathological results showed that after 12 weeks of HFD, the number of fat
droplets increased, liver scaffolds collapsed and wider sinuses were observed. Furthermore,
white blood cell count and inflammatory marker levels were also increased in the HFD
group compared to the CTRL group, however, 4 weeks of NAR treatment resulted in a
decrease at both doses. Our histopathological and biochemical results demonstrated
that 4 weeks of NAR treatment had a dose-dependent effect on inflammatory changes.
Our results demonstrate that 4 weeks of oral administration of NAR is protective against
HFD-induced liver damage and thus may be effective in attenuating the progression
of NAFLD.