The Beneficial Effects of Silymarin in Treatment of Experimentally Induced Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats

Abstract
Background: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common diseases worldwide, which is commonly associated with diabetes hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance with oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction. Silymarin offers good protection in various toxic models of experimental liver diseases in laboratory animals. It acts by antioxidative, anti-lipid peroxidative, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, membrane stabilizing, immunomodulatory and liver regenerating mechanisms
Aim of the Study: The present work was designed to study the beneficial effects of silymarin on a dietary model of NAFLD.
Material and Methods: 30 male albino rats were allocated in 3 groups. Groups. Group I represents the normal control, Group II represents the HFD induced NAFLD model, the effects of silymarin, was assessed in groups III. Body weight and blood pressure were recorded and blood samples were tested for total cholesterol, triglycerides and liver transami-nases. Livers were removed and weighed, parts were used for GSH, MDA,TGF-B and other parts were kept for histopatholg-ical examination. Aortae were removed for in vitro vascular reactivity studies.
Results: Induction of NAFLD model by HFD for 20 weeks resulted in significant increase in body weight, blood pressure, liver index and epididymal weight, serum and liver different biochemical parameters with significant improvement of these indices in silymarin treated group. HFD model groups showed notable steatosis, lobular inflammation and fibrosis which was improved with silymarin use. Also NAFLD rats developed endothelial dysfunction which was significantly ameliorated in silymarin treated group.
Conclusion: The results of the present work showed that silymarin have the potential to favorably influence the course of NAFLD process and its complications. silymarin has many beneficial effects including scavenging of free radicals, or by enhancing the activity of antioxidant effects.