Effects of Teucrium polium on Insulin Resistance in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, the most common chronic liver disorder, is frequently associated with the clinical features of metabolic syndrome such as insulin resistance. We aimed to determine the effect of the crude and the ethyl acetate extracts of Teucrium polium on insulin resistance in rats with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Rats were divided into four groups. Group A was fed a normal diet for 11 weeks. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis was induced in the remaining groups using a methionine/choline deficient (MCD) diet for 8 weeks. After nonalcoholic steatohepatitis development, group B continued with receiving the MCD diet alone; group C rats were given the MCD diet along with crude extract of T. polium (equivalent to 1 g leaves powder/kg body weight/day); group D rats were given the ethyl acetate fraction of T. polium by intragastric administration for 3 weeks. MCD diet led to grade 1 liver steatosis. In group C and D, these factors abated to grade 0 in 80% of the rats. In the groups receiving the extract, lipoprotein profiles were significantly improved relative to those not receiving the extract. Also, a dramatic reduction was observed in sera alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase activities. In addition, in groups C and D, an increase in the activities of liver superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase enzymes were also associated with a decrease in the malondialdehyde level relative to group B. Moreover, both extracts significantly decreased plasma glucose and insulin levels along with insulin resistance. In conclusion, both extracts of T. polium could reverse the adverse effects of an MCD diet.