Background: Worldwide growing rates of obesity are correlated with the rising prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with limited available therapeutics. Aim: The present study was undertaken to investigate the modulatory effects of dietary supplementation fisetin on hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 α (HNF4α) gene expression, hepatic lipin-1 signaling, thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) levels, poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activity, as well as some oxidative stress parameters in a rat model of high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) induced NAFLD.Methods: Sixty male albino rats were allocated into four equal groups: normal control group, fisetin-treated control group, NAFLD group, and fisetin-treated NAFLD group. Gene expression levels of HNF4-α were estimated using quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), while Lipin-1, TXNIP levels, and PARP-1 activity were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); lipid profile, hepatic lipid contents, hepatic lipoperoxides, fatty acid synthase activity, and total antioxidant capacity were also assessed colorimetrically.Results: Fisetin ameliorated HFHS-induced NAFLD; where it suppressed hepatic lipid accumulation, upregulated HNF4-α /lipin-1 signaling, mitigated oxidative stress, inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated TXNIP induction, and PARP-1 activation. In conclusion, fisetin could confer protection against NAFLD and impede its progression. However,additional experimental scrutiny is needed to verify these findings.
K E Y W O R D Sfisetin, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 α, lipin-1, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, poly-(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1, thioredoxin-interacting protein