Effects of Turmeric Essential Oil Components on Lipid Metabolism and Blood Pressure Elevation in a Diet-Induced NASH Model Rat (SHRSP5/Dmcr)

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become one of the leading causes of liver disease in the 21st century. Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an advanced form of NAFLD and is a disease of concern in Japan. In this study, essential oil components and bisacurone fractions extracted from turmeric powder with 50% ethanol and fractionated with n-hexane were added to an originally designed high fat and high fructose (HFF-CD) diet and fed to SHRSP5/Dmcr rats for 12 weeks. Blood samples were taken and necropsy was performed to determine liver and lipid weight, serum ALT, AST, TG, liver TG, TBARS levels, and lipid metabolism-related gene expression. Histopathological examination of the liver and systolic blood pressure measurements were also performed. There was a significant decrease in TBARS levels in the liver, an increasing trend in PPAR-α and a decreasing trend in PPAR-γ in the lipid metabolism-related gene test in the BIS and HF groups. In addition, a significant inhibition of systolic blood pressure increase was observed in the BIS and EF groups. These results suggest that a fraction of bisacurone inhibits fat accumulation in the liver by promoting lipid metabolism in NASH model rats. It was also found to have an inhibitory effect on blood pressure elevation in NASH model rats.