Halsey Gade (coachfaucet1)
ive cardiovascular risk modification. Aloe vera exerts several biological activities, such as, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. It was recently shown to reduce insulin resistance and triglyceride level. We hypothesized that aloe vera would have beneficial effects in alleviating non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in rats. To examine the therapeutic effects of aloe vera in NASH rats. All rats were randomly divided into 3 groups ( = 6 in each group). Rats in the control group were fed ad libitum with a standard diet for 8 wk. Rats in the NASH group were fed ad libitum with a high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHFD) for 8 wk. Rats in the aloe vera group were fed ad libitum with a HFHFD and aloe vera in dimethylsulfoxide (50 mg/kg) by gavage daily for 8 wk. Liver samples were collected at the end of the treatment period. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased significantly in the NASH group as compared with the control group (377 ± 77 nmol/mg 129 ± 51 nmol/mg protein, respectively, < 0.001). Glutathione (GSH) levels were significantly lower in the NASH group than the control group (9 ± 2 nmol/mg 24 ± 8 nmol/mg protein, respectively, = 0.001). The expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18), nuclear factor-kappa β, and caspase-3 increased, while peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma decreased in the NASH group compared with the controls. Following aloe vera administration, MDA levels decreased (199 ± 35 nmol/mg protein) and GSH increased (18 ± 4 nmol/mg protein) markedly. Steatosis, hepatocyte ballooning, lobular inflammation and increased hepatocyte apoptosis were observed in the NASH group. Aloe vera treatment attenuated these changes in liver histology. Aloe vera attenuated oxidative stress, hepatic inflammation and hepatocyte apoptosis, thus improving liver pathology in rats with NASH. Aloe vera attenuated oxidative stress, hepatic inflammation and hepatocyte apoptosis, thus improving liver pathology in rats with NASH. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are newly developed oral antidiabetic drugs. SGLT2 is primarily expressed in the kidneys and reabsorbs approximately 90% of the glucose filtered by the renal glomeruli. SGLT2 inhibitors lower glucose levels independently of insulin action by facilitating urinary glucose excretion. The SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin has reportedly improved liver steatosis in animal models and clinical studies. However, the mechanisms by which SGLT2 inhibitors improve liver steatosis are not fully understood. To investigate the ameliorative effects of ipragliflozin on liver steatosis and the mechanisms of these effects in obese mice. We analyzed 8-wk-old male obese ( ) mice that were randomly divided into a group receiving a normal chow diet and a group receiving a normal chow diet supplemented with ipragliflozin (3 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) for 4 wk. We also analyzed their lean sex-matched littermates receiving a normal chow diet as another control group. Body weight and liver whepatic SIRT1 signaling, possibly through the PGC-1α/PPARα-FGF21 pathway. Our study suggests that the liver steatosis-ameliorating effects of ipragliflozin in ob/ob mice may be mediated partly by hepatic SIRT1 signaling, possibly through the PGC-1α/PPARα-FGF21 pathway.Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of the global burden of disease and results in high healthcare and economic costs. Heavy alcohol misuse leads to alcohol-related liver disease, which is responsible for a significant proportion of alcohol-attributable deaths globally. Other than reducing alcohol consumption, there are currently no effective treatments for alcohol-related liver disease. Oxidative stress refers to an imbalance in the production and elimination of reactive oxygen species and antioxidants. It plays important roles in several aspects of alcohol-related liv