The effect of citrus flavonoids on the redox state of alimentary-induced fatty liver in rats

Abstract

Both chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and fatty liver may develop at the same time. Hesperidin and diosmin are used for the treatment CVI. There is no information, however, on the effect of these flavonoids in the redox state of fatty liver. In this study, male Wistar albino rats were fed a lipid-rich diet with or without 450 mg diosmin–50 mg hesperidin-containing drug (60 mg kg⁻¹body weight/day, per os) for 9 days to determine the impact of treatment on antioxidant defence system of the fatty liver. We detected free SH-group concentration (SHC), hydrogen-donating ability (HDA), and natural scavenger capacity were decreased and hepatic malonaldehyde content and dien conjugate (DC) content in rats with fatty liver were increased compared to the control. After treatment in fatty liver, these parameters (except DC) significantly improved and approached the control value. Our results indicate that diosmin–hesperidin-containing drug may be a useful agent in improving the antioxidant defensive system in alimentary-induced fatty liver disease.

Keywords:

• Diosmin
• Hesperidin
• Fatty liver
• Redox homeostasis

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express grateful thanks to Mrs. Sarolta Bárkovits and Mrs. Edina Pintér for their excellent technical assistance. The study was supported by the 2/1. PhD Program of Semmelweis University and by the NKFP 1/047/2004 project.