Efeitos da polpa de pomelo (Citrus maxima) sobre alterações causadas pela doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica e obesidade: estudo translacional em ratos e humanos

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver damage in the western world and is considered a public health problem. Among the most frequent risk factors for the development and progression of this pathology are visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress, as it, causes low-grade inflammation. As there is no pharmacological treatment to control this disease, the use of medicinal plants that have bioactive compounds can be a promising alternative. The pomelo fruits (Citrus maxima) have shown beneficial activities for the body, these activities being attributed to the presence of phytochemical compounds. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of pomelo fruit pulp extract (Citrus maxima) on biochemical, inflammatory, antioxidant and histological changes in rats with NAFLD. Forty male Wistar

rats divided into four groups were used: (1) control group; (2) fructose associated with high- fat diet - DHF; (3): normal diet + grapefruit extract (50 mg/kg) and (4): FHD + grapefruit

extract. A significant improvement in lipid profile, liver and kidney function, inflammation, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defenses was identified in group 4 compared to group 2. In addition, a decrease in hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol and in fat droplets in hepatic tissue were observed in group 4 compared to group 2. These results highlight that pomelo pulp extract may be useful to prevent the progression of NAFLD.