Phyllanthus Niruri Standardized Extract Alleviatesudthe Progression of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseaseudand Decreases Atherosclerotic Risk inudSprague–Dawley Rats

摘要

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the major global health issues, stronglyudcorrelated with insulin resistance, obesity and oxidative stress. The current study aimed to evaluateudanti-NAFLD effects of three different extracts of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri). NAFLD was inducedudin male Sprague–Dawley rats using a special high-fat diet (HFD). A 50% methanolic extract (50%udME) exhibited the highest inhibitory effect against NAFLD progression. It significantly reducedudhepatomegaly (16%) and visceral fat weight (22%), decreased NAFLD score, prevented fibrosis,udand reduced serum total cholesterol (TC) (48%), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (65%), free fattyudacids (FFAs) (25%), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (45%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (38%), insulinudconcentration (67%), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (73%), serumudatherogenic ratios TC/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (29%), LDL/HDL (66%) and (TC–HDL)/HDLud(64%), hepatic content of cholesterol (43%), triglyceride (29%) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (40%)udcompared to a non-treated HFD group. In vitro, 50% ME of P. niruri inhibited �-glucosidase,udpancreatic lipase enzymes and cholesterol micellization. It also had higher total phenolic andudtotal flavonoid contents compared to other extracts. Ellagic acid and phyllanthin were identified asudmajor compounds. These results suggest that P. niruri could be further developed as a novel naturaludhepatoprotective agent against NAFLD and atherosclerosis.