SUPPRESSIVE EFFECT OF TEUCRIUM POLIUM ON OXIDATIVE DAMAGES AMONG EXPERIMENTAL STEATOHEPATITIS

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a metabolic disorder of the liver that may progress to fibrosis or cirrhosis. In the present study, we examined the possible preventive effect of an extract of Teucrium polium L. (Lamiaceae), a plant with high flavonoid content and antioxidant activity, on experimental NASH. To induce NASH, a methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet was given to N-Mary rats for 8 weeks. Rats were given normal diet (control, n=5), normal diet plus crude extract of T. polium (TPC) (0.5 g/kg body weight/day by gavages) (C+TPC, n=5), MCD diet (MCD, n=5) and MCD diet+ TPC (0.5 g powder/kg body weight/day by gavages). Histopathological evaluation of the liver samples revealed that treatment with TPC has abated the severity of NASH among the MCD–fed rats. In addition, the hepatic malondialdehyde, caspases–3 and TNF-α levels were decreased among the same group of rats. The activities of liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and the level of hepatic glutathione were also enhanced among MCD+TPC group relative to MCD group. Moreover, the crude extract significantly enhanced the active form of Akt and the deactive form of JNK. Based on these data, it can be concluded that preventive effect of T. polium on NASH is mediated mainly through suppression of oxidative stress with consequent activation of Akt, a survival factor, and deactivation of JNK, an apoptotic factor, and this might be attributed to the strong antioxidant property of the crude extract.