DefinePK

Research Objective

To observe the effect of canagliflozin and glycyrrhizin in the prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Methodology

Experimental study using a randomized control trial design. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Three groups were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Group A (normal control) received normal rat chow. Group B (disease control) received distilled water. Group C received glycyrrhizin (60 mg/kg). Group D received canagliflozin (10 mg/kg). Liver tissue was prepared for histopathological analysis. Data was analyzed using SPSS 25 with Kruskal Wallis ANOVA and Mann Whitney U test.

Methodology Flowchart

                        graph TD
    A["Recruit 24 Male Sprague-Dawley Rats"] --> B["Randomly Allocate into 4 Groups"];
    B --> C["Group A: Normal Diet"];
    B --> D["Group B: High Fat High Cholesterol Diet"];
    B --> E["Group C: HFHC Diet + Glycyrrhizin"];
    B --> F["Group D: HFHC Diet + Canagliflozin"];
    D --> G["Induce NAFLD 8 weeks"];
    E --> G;
    F --> G;
    G --> H["Administer Treatments 8 weeks"];
    H --> I["Sacrifice Animals"];
    I --> J["Prepare Liver Tissue for Histopathology"];
    J --> K["Analyze Data SPSS, ANOVA, Mann Whitney U"];
    K --> L["Draw Conclusions"];                    

Discussion

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an emerging global public health threat. Canagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, can control obesity by inhibiting insulin resistance and reducing body weight. Glycyrrhizin, derived from licorice root, has known medicinal effects on dyslipidemias, hyperglycemia, and weight reduction. The study's model for NAFLD induction involved a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet. Both treatments showed beneficial effects, with canagliflozin exhibiting a more pronounced improvement in histopathological markers.

Key Findings

Both glycyrrhizin and canagliflozin showed a significantly lower grade of hepatic steatosis compared to the disease control group. Canagliflozin treatment resulted in a significant decrease in hepatic steatosis, hepatic inflammation, and ballooning compared to the glycyrrhizin-treated group. Glycyrrhizin halted the progression of fatty liver disease. Canagliflozin demonstrated a reversal of hepatic steatosis and inflammation and halted hepatic ballooning.

Conclusion

Glycyrrhizin halted the progression of fatty liver disease. Canagliflozin caused a reversal of the disease by restoring hepatic steatosis and hepatic inflammation while halting hepatic ballooning, suggesting their beneficial effects for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Fact Check

1. Study Period: The study was conducted from March 2018 to August 2019. (Confirmed in the text).
2. Number of Rats: Twenty-four adult healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. (Confirmed in the text).
3. Canagliflozin Dosage: The canagliflozin treatment group was given 10 mg/kg. (Confirmed in the text).

Mind Map