Metabolic effects of and protective action against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in diabetic rats.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the result of the accumulation of adipose tissue deposits in the liver and it is associated with type 2 diabetes. (saffron) is known for its antioxidant and its potential hypoglycemic effects. We investigated the role of saffron on NAFLD in diabetic rats. Thirty adult male rats were allocated into three groups; control (n=10), which received normal diet; streptozotocin (STZ) group (n=10), which received normal chow diet, 10% fructose in their drinking water and STZ (40 mg/kg body weight; STZ-saffron group (n=10), which followed the same dietary and pharmacological pattern as STZ group and were additionally supplemented with saffron (100 mg/kg/day). Metabolic profile was measured and histopathological examination of the liver was evaluated. STZ group exhibited the highest glucose levels at the end of the experiment (P<0.05), while there was no difference between control and STZ-saffron group (584 vs. 213 mg/dl vs. 209 mg/dl, respectively). STZ group revealed higher percentage of steatosis (5-33%) when compared to the other two groups (P<0.005). Saffron exhibits both hypoglycemic and hepatoprotective actions. Yet, further studies enlightening the exact mechanisms of saffron's mode of actions are required.