A histomorphometric study on the hepatoprotective effects of a green rooibos extract in a diet-induced obese rat model.
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
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.