Abstract
Objective: To determine the effect of Ajwa date seed
powder on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
in high fat fed rats.
Methodology: We randomly divided 36 SpragueDawley female into 3 groups. Control group was given
standard rat chow for period of 12 weeks. High fat diet
(HFD) group received high fat diet, while
experimental group (HFD + ADS) was fed with 2%
Ajwa date seed powder added in high fat diet
throughout the study duration. Rats were sacrificed
after 12 weeks of study and livers were resected,
weighed and formalin fixed for histological
examination.
Results: The treated group showed reduction from
grade 3 to grade 1 in steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis
and necrosis of hepatocytes. (p˂ 0.001). The mean
body weight also decreased significantly in
comparison to the disease control group (p˂ 0.05).
Conclusion: Addition of Ajwa date seed powder to
diet can prevent weight gain and high fat diet induced
injury to the liver. It can be used as a nutraceutical
agent to prevent central obesity and related diseases.
Keywords: Fatty liver, NAFLD, hepatic steatosis,
obesity, lipogenesis
