Gentisic acid attenuates high fat and high fructose diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease through modulation of metabolic and hepatic alterations in Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND

'Gentisic acid is a phenolic compound that contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics and could help prevent oxidative stress and damage to the liver caused by MASLD. Gentisic acid's medicinal potential is poorly investigated and not widely studied.'

OBJECTIVES

'To evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of gentisic acid in rats fed high fat and high fructose (HFHFr) diet, physical, biochemical and histopathological parameters were studied in experimental rats.'

METHODS

'Male Wistar rats were randomly allocated into five groups: Normal Control (NC), Disease Control (DC; HFHFr diet), Standard (pioglitazone, 3 mg/kg, p.o.), GA I (40 mg/kg, p.o.), and GA II (80 mg/kg, p.o.). Treatments were administered during the final 14 days of the study. At the end, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, while visceral fat and liver tissues were excised for histopathological evaluation.'

RESULTS

GA significantly improved metabolic and liver abnormalities in HFHFr diet-induced MASLD rats. It reduced weight gain, liver weight, visceral fat, blood glucose, lipidic markers, liver enzymes and inflammatory markers; increasing the HDL levels. Histopathological study also revealed decreased steatosis, inflammation, lipid, and hepatocellular damage and restored the normal liver architecture demonstrating a dose-dependent response. Results confirm that GA has hepatoprotective and antihyperlipidemic effects in the treatment of MASLD, which are supported by scientific evidence.

CONCLUSIONS

GA II at dose of 80 mg/kg revealed strong hepatoprotective action against HFHFr diet induced MASLD in rats by improving biochemical and histopathological parameters. The results show some good preclinical support for use in the treatment of MASLD.