N-acetylcysteine attenuates oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Abstract

AIM:To evaluate attenuating properties of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on oxidative stress and liver pathology in rats with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). METHODS:Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 (control, n = 8) was free accessed to regular dry rat chow (RC) for 6 wk.Group 2 (NASH, n = 8) was fed with 100% fat diet for 6 wk. Group 3 (NASH + NAC20, n = 9) was fed with 100% fat diet plus 20 mg/kg per day of NAC orally for 6 wk. All rats were sacrificed to collect blood and liver samples at the end of the study. RESULTS:The levels of total glutathione (GSH) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly in the NASH group as compared with the control group (GSH; 2066.7 ± 93.2 vs 1337.5 ± 31.5 µmol/L and MDA; 209.9± 43.9 vs 3.8 ±1.7 µmol/g protein, respectively, P < 0.05). Liver histopathology from group 2 showed moderate to severe macrovesicular steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, and necroinflammation. NAC treatment improved the level of GSH (1394.8 ± 81.2 µmol/L, P < 0.05), it did not affect MDA (150.1 ± 27.0 µmol/g protein), but led to a decrease in fat deposition and necroinflammation.CONCLUSION: NAC treatment could attenuate oxidative stress and improve liver histology in rats with NASH.

The effect of tomato juice supplementation on biomarkers and gene expression related to lipid metabolism in rats with induced hepatic steatosis

“…These compounds can counteract hepatocyte injury associated with lipid peroxidation and chronic oxidative stress. Some authors have reported a positive effect of dietary antioxidants such as vitamins C and E [5,6], bioactive compounds like resveratrol [7] and lycopene [8,9], and antioxidant drugs such as N-acetylcysteine [10] on the biomarkers of NAFLD, as well as highlighting that they impede progression toward NASH in both human and animal models. Tomatoes are characterized by a low fat and protein content, and are rich in phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and vitamins C and E [11,12].…”

Cytoprotective Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Streptozotocin- Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in RIN-5F Pancreatic β-Cells

“…The synthesis of GSH is limited by the availability of cysteine [18]. Clinically, NAC is used as a mucolytic agent in patients with cystic fibrosis [19], as an antidote in the treatment of acetaminophen overdose [20] and also used in the prevention of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by decreased GSH and increased oxidative stress [21]. NAC is considered a better source of glutathione than glutathione itself, due to the low oral absorption of the latter.…”

Protective effect of thymoquinone on cholestatic rats with liver injury

“…In the bile duct occlusion rat model, the oxidative damage was activated, and the lack of antioxidant capacity increased the liver fibrosis score and the degree of fibrosis. Thymoquinone can significantly reduce oxidative damage, improve the antioxidative effect on the liver, and reduce the fibrosis score (Birkner et al, 2007;Thong-Ngam et al, 2007;Singer et al, 2011). Therefore, we hypothesized that the protective effect of thymoquinone on liver injury was associated with the reduction of hepatic oxidative stress byproduct levels and improvement of the endogenous antioxidant system (Badary et al, 1998;Mansour et al, 2002).…”