Protective effect of caffeine and curcumin versus silymarin on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in rats

Objective To compare between the effect of curcumin, caffeine with silymarin on an animal model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by a high-fat and high-sucrose (HFHS) diet. Background Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is recognized as the most common cause of chronic liver disease. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play a part in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance. Materials and methods Fifty male albino rats were divided into five groups: control group; group B receives a HFHS diet for 16 weeks; group C receives a HFHS diet for 16 weeks and was treated by silymarin in the last 8 weeks; group D receives a HFHS diet for 16 weeks and was treated with curcumin in the last 8 weeks; and group E receives a HFHS diet for 16 weeks and was treated with caffeine in the last 8 weeks. Results The HFHS group shows a significant increase in body weight, insulin, tumor necrosis factor α, malonaldehyde, total cholesterol, and triglycerides; compared with the control group, silymarin-treated, curcumin-treated, and caffeine-treated groups show a significant decrease in these parameters. Conclusion Silymarin-treated, curcumin-treated, and caffeine-treated groups show a significant protection against HFHS (western) diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.