Effect of Metformin, Pioglitazone and Rosuvastatin on Induced Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver in Rats

Abstract

Background: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases affecting up to 30% of the general population worldwide. Objective: the aim of this work was to study the effects of metformin, pioglitazone and rosuvastatin on serum lipids cholesterol and triglycerides (TG), liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), random blood sugar (RBS), oxidative stress malondialdehyde (MDA), and histopathological changes in induced non-alcoholic fatty liver in rats. Patients and Methods: fifty male albino rats weighing 100-120 grams of local strain were used. Animals were purchased from Nile Pharmaceutical Company. They were kept in suitable cages at room temperature with the natural light-dark cycle. They were maintained on a standard diet of commercial rat chow and free tap water. They were kept for 10 days for adaptation to the new environment before the start of the experiment. Results: triglycerides decreased significantly in all treated groups as compared to hypercholesterolemic control group. ALT decreased significantly in all treated groups as compared to hypercholesterolemic control group. AST decreased significantly in all treated groups as compared to hypercholesterolemic control group. Blood glucose decreased significantly in Metformin and Rosuvastatin treated groups as compared to hypercholesterolemic control group. Conclusion: the three drugs could be utilized as a treatment option to guard against fat deposition in the liver or progression of steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, further studies are required to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of the insulin sensitizers in NAFLD patients.