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Abstract

Our aim was to determine the effect of rutin, a flavonol glycoside on ethanol induced hepatic lipid accumulation in experimental rats. Male albino Wistar rats were randomized into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 received isocaloric glucose. Hepatic injury was induced in groups 3 and 4 by administering 20% ethanol via intragastric intubation for 60days. In addition, groups 2 and 4 were given rutin (100 mg/kg) daily for the last 30 days of the experiment. Ethanol alone administered rats showed a significant increase in the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), phospholipids (PL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) with a concomitant decrease in the levels of high density lipoproteins (HDL). Haematoxylin and eosin staining of the liver of ethanol alone fed rats showed inflammatory cell infiltrates and fatty changes Supplementation with rutin reversed the ethanol induced alterations in lipid profile and also restored the liver histology which appeared similar to the control rats. Together the results obtained clearly reveal the protective effects of rutin against lipid accumulation in the circulation and liver.