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A histomorphometric study on the hepatoprotective effects of a green rooibos extract in a diet-induced obese rat model.

Acta histochemica
July 1, 2019
J I Layman et al. (5 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine the histological effects of an aspalathin-rich green rooibos extract (GRE) on liver steatosis, inflammation, and body weight in a diet-induced obese rat model.

Results Summary

GRE co-treatment significantly reduced body and liver mass, steatosis area, inflammation, and hepatocellular injury in high-fat diet-fed rats, suggesting anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory, and weight-reducing effects.

Population

Male Wistar rats (N=28) on a high-fat diet.

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (12)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
high-fat diet
increase
body mass
Wistar rats
significant
A significant increase
#1
high-fat diet
increase
liver mass
Wistar rats
significant
A significant increase
#2
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
body mass
Wistar rats
significant
significantly reduced
#3
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
liver mass
Wistar rats
significant
significantly reduced
#4
high-fat diet
increase
volume of steatosis
Wistar rats
significant
significantly increased
#5
high-fat diet
increase
area of steatosis
Wistar rats
significant
significantly increased
#6
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
area of steatosis
Wistar rats
significant
significantly reduced
#7
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
percentage of steatosis
Wistar rats
-
reduced
#8
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
location of steatosis
Wistar rats
-
reduced
#9
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
type of steatosis
Wistar rats
-
reduced
#10
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
presence of inflammation
Wistar rats
-
reduced
#11
green rooibos co-treatment
decrease
hepatocellular injury
Wistar rats
-
reduced
#12
Abstract

Obesity, type two diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance are associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Unfermented green rooibos is an aspalathin rich variant of traditional fermented rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and has a high polyphenol content. The present study aimed to determine the histologically observable effects of a commercially produced, aspalathin-rich green rooibos extract, Afriplex GRT™ (GRE) in a diet-induced obese rat model. Male Wistar rats (N = 28) were randomly assigned to four study groups (n = 7): control (C), green rooibos (GRT), high-fat diet (HFD) and experimental (HFD-GRT) group. Body mass was determined prior to euthanasia and liver mass was determined after death. The left lateral lobe of the liver was processed to wax and stained using haematoxylin and eosin (H & E), Masson's trichrome stain, Gordons and Sweet's reticulin impregnation and periodic acid-Schiff stain. Frozen liver tissue sections were used for Oil red O staining. Morphometric quantification of steatosis, semiquantitative pathology grading and scoring were performed and verified by a veterinary histopathologist. A significant increase in body and liver mass was observed in the HFD groups while co-treatment with green rooibos significantly reduced both. The volume and area of steatosis were significantly increased in the HFD groups while the area of steatosis significantly reduced with green rooibos co-treatment. The percentage, location and type of steatosis as well as presence of inflammation and hepatocellular injury were reduced in the HFD group co-treated with GRE. These findings suggest that a GRE has potential as an anti-steatotic, anti-inflammatory and weight reducing agent in vivo.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AnimalsAnti-Obesity AgentsAspalathusDiet, High-FatDisease Models, AnimalFatty LiverHistocytochemistryLiverMaleObesityPhytotherapyPlant ExtractsRatsRats, Wistar
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality78/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations13
Citations/Year2.2
Relative Citation Ratio0.92
NIH Percentile47.2%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score1.63
Normalized Score0.70
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