Extracts of Korean Natural Herb Alleviate Pathophysiology of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver

This study was designed to examine effects of Korean Acer tegmentosum Maximowocz extract, which has traditionally been used for the treatment of liver damages in fat dietinduced obese rats. 40 male SD rats were divided into three groups: normal diet (Control group, n=10), 40% fat diet-induced obese rats (Obesity group, n=15), and Acer tegmentosum Maximowoczextract diet with 40% fat diet-induced obese rats (ATM group, n=15). Hematological and biochemical variables were measured. Histological examinations of liver and adipose tissues were performed with hematoxylin & eosin stain. Total leukocyte, neutrophil, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio, erythrocyte, platelet, hemoglobin, and red distribution width levels were significantly higher, whereas monocyte levels were lower in obesity group than in control and ATM group. Glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, AST, ALT, and BUN levels in obesity group were significantly greater than those of ATM. ATM group showed significantly lower liver fatty degeneration (steatosis) than obesity group. ATM group exhibited regular morphology of adipocytes and adipocyte sizes are smaller than obesity group, whereas obesity group showed larger and irregular shapes of adipocytes than ATM and control groups. These results suggest that Korean Acer tegmentosum Maximowocz exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects.