High‐fat diet with grape seed extract and delta‐tocotrienol ameliorate hepatic histopathological changes in a murine model for non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Defects in fat metabolism are responsible for pathogenesis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) that could progress to cirrhosis. Few studies have shown polyphenols and fat soluble vitamin E (tocotrienol) to play a restrictive role in hepatic lipid status. This study investigated the effects of grape seed extract polyphenols (GSE) and ¦Ä‐tocotrienol supplementation (alone and in combination) with a high fat diet (HFD) in liver steatosis. Histopathological features in liver were induced and are typical of human NASH as in C57BL/6J mice. Sixty four C57BL/6J mice, divided into control and high‐fat groups were fed low‐fat diet or HFD with supplements (n = 8) ad libitum for 20 weeks. Mice were sacrificed and histopathological analyses were performed for biomarkers in liver typical of human NASH. HFD led to increased fat accumulation in the liver and induced histopathological features. Mice on HFD reached higher total body weights and relative liver weights (p ¡Ü .05). The GSE group showed significant difference in their relative liver weights compared to all the groups (p ¡Ü .05). The total adipose tissue weights (epididymal and peritoneal depots) were similar to adipose tissue weights that characterize NASH in humans. Polyphenols from GSE and ¦Ä‐tocotrienol alone and in combination may ameliorate the NASH like histopathological features in C57BL/6J mice. Supported by Research Enhancement Program, TWU Grant Funding Source : Research Enhancement Program, TWU