Therapeutic effect of astragalus polysaccharides on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in rats
10.16781/j.0258-879x.2018.05.0573
- Author:
Qian-Fa YUAN
1
Author Information
1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Basic College, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Astragalan;
Blood glucose;
Lipids;
Nonalcoholic fatty liver;
Simvastatin
- From:
Academic Journal of Second Military Medical University
2018;39(5):573-578
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the therapeutic effect of astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on high fat-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats. Methods Totally 36 male SD rats were randomized into normal control group (n=8) and disease model group (n=28). The rats in the disease model group were fed with high-fat diet for 6 weeks to establish rat model of NAFLD. Twenty-five of 28 NAFLD model rats were randomized into NAFLD model group (n=7), simvastatin group (n=9, intragastric administration of simvastatin [6.7 mg · kg-1 · d-1]) and APS group (n=9, intragastric administration of APS [700 mg · kg-1 · d-1]). The rats in the normal control group and the NAFLD model group were intragastrically given the same volume of double distilled water. The rats in each group were continuously fed for 8 weeks. The dietary intake, energy intake, drinking water, excretion and serum biochemical parameters were compared between the four groups. Liver tissues were collected to calculate the liver index and measure the contents of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG). The liver tissue structure and cell morphology were observed under the optical microscope. Results The energy intake of rats in the NAFLD model group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05), and the dietary intake, drinking water and excretion were significantly lower than those in the normal control group (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in dietary intake, energy intake, drinking water or excretion between the simvastatin, APS and NAFLD model groups (all P>0.05). Compared with the NAFLD model group, serum levels of TC, TG, lowdensity lipoprotein-cholesterol and malondialdehyde were significantly decreased, and the level of high-density lipoproteincholesterol and the activity of total superoxide dismutase were significantly increased in the APS and simvastatin groups (all P<0.05). The contents of TC and TG in liver tissues, and the number and area of lipid droplets in hepatocytes were significantly decreased in the APS and simvastatin groups versus the NAFLD model group (all P<0.05). The serum levels of glucose, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly lower in the APS group than those in the NAFLD model group (all P<0.05), while there were no significant differences between the NAFLD model group and the simvastatin group (all P>0.05). Conclusion APS can effectively regulate the levels of serum glucose, blood lipids and hepatic lipid droplets in NAFLD rats, which may be related to the antioxidant effect of APS.
