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Glycyrrhizin Improves Fatty Liver Symptoms, Increases Adiponectin and Reduces UCP2 Expression in Wistar Rats

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Abstract

Glycyrrhizin (GL) is the main bioactive component in the extract of licorice root, with beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome. This study investigates the effect of GL on biochemical and histological parameters and UCP2 gene expression in a rodent nonalcoholic steatosis model. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were classified into four groups randomly: control (normal diet with standard rat chow), high-cholesterol diet (HCD for 12 weeks) and two experimental groups (HCD for 12 weeks then shifted to normal diet plus receiving either 20 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg of glycyrrhizin for 4 weeks). At the end of experiment, in the HCD group, body weight, glucose and insulin levels were increased, lipid profile was impaired, and the markers related to liver were abnormal, while adiponectin, catalase and superoxide dismutase levels were decreased. Histological analysis of liver sections showed the appearance of hepatic fibrosis and steatosis, and UCP2 gene expression was increased significantly. GL treatment at both doses and especially at 100 mg/kg ameliorated the situation, and levels of UCP2 were decreased significantly. In conclusion, administration of glycyrrhizin can improve liver fibrosis through down-regulating the UCP2 expression.

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Acknowledgements

This study has been performed in the laboratory complex of Science and Research Branch of Azad University, Tehran.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Hamedeh Bagheri & Parichehreh Yaghmaei

  2. Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mohamadhosein Modaresi

  3. Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran

    Marjan Sabbaghian

  4. Biosensor Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Jalal-al-Ahmad Street, Chamran Highway, Tehran, 1411713137, Iran

    Azadeh Ebrahim-Habibi

  5. Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Azadeh Ebrahim-Habibi

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  1. Hamedeh Bagheri
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  2. Parichehreh Yaghmaei
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Correspondence to Parichehreh Yaghmaei or Azadeh Ebrahim-Habibi.

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Significance Statement Fatty liver has still no definitive cure. Glycyrrhizin (GL) attenuates the symptoms of fatty liver in rats. GL is suggested to act by influencing lipid profile, liver enzymes, bilirubin, glucose and adiponectin levels, and expression of UCP2 gene.

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Bagheri, H., Yaghmaei, P., Modaresi, M. et al. Glycyrrhizin Improves Fatty Liver Symptoms, Increases Adiponectin and Reduces UCP2 Expression in Wistar Rats. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., India, Sect. B Biol. Sci. 90, 191–197 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40011-019-01097-7

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