Glycerol‐3‐phosphate (G3P) generation in Liver of Mice with Non‐Acoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) Treated with Momordica Charantia (Mc).

NAFLD is defined as a pathological accumulation of triglycerides (TG). It affects 10‐24% of world's population and it is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. The aim of this work was evaluate G3P generation for TAG synthesis in a model of NAFLD treated or not with Mc. Male mice were fed with control (C) or high fat (HF) diets for 8 weeks. HF animals were then treated (HFT) (5 days) with 5mg/bw of Mc extract. Metabolic phenotype was evaluated using commercial kits. Liver was removed for histology and metabolic flux analysis. G3P generation was evaluated by a) glycolytic flux using 3 H‐5‐glucose, b) incorporation of 14 C‐pyruvate or 14 C‐ glycerol into G3P besides into lipids and glucose and c) glycerol kinase (GyK) and PEPCK activities. HF increased body and liver weight (Lw), glucose (GLU), ALT, total cholesterol (CT), VLDL and TG vs C. Mc decreased GLU, CT, VLDL, TAG and Lw. There was no difference at GyK and in incorporation of 14 C‐glycerol into G3P in any group. Incorporation of 14 C‐glycerol into lipids and into glucose was decreased in HF vs C and in HFT vs HF respectively. PEPCK activity increased in HF vs C and this activity was decreased in HFT vs HF. Incorporation of 14 C‐pyruvate into G3P decreased in HF vs C and this parameter was lower in HFT vs HF. Incorporation of 14 C‐pyruvate into glucose increased in HF vs C and into lipids decreased in HF vs C as well as in HFT vs HF. There was no difference in glycolytic flux in any group. Histological improvement was observed in liver from animals with NAFLD and treated with Mc. Mc seems to be efficient in treatment of NAFLD controlling glycemia, lipidemia and generation of G3P. Support: CNPq