The comparison of the effects of nano-silymarin and silymarin on high-fat diet-induced fatty liver of adult male rats

Objective: Considering the high prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its complications, this study aims to determine and compare the effect of nano-silymarin and silymarin on non-alcoholic fatty liver in rats.Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into ۵ groups: Control, high-fat diet, high-fat diet and atorvastatin, high-fat diet and silymarin, and high-fat diet and nano-silymarin. After ۱۲ weeks, blood samples were taken to measure cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, LDL, ALT and AST. The animals were killed and the liver tissue was removed to examine the histopathological changes.Results: Feeding with a high-fat diet caused a significant increase in cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-C in serum of rats compared to the control. Nano-silymarin and silymarin could significantly reduce serum triglyceride compared to negative group but the reduction of cholesterol, LDL-C, AST and ALT by nano-silymarin was not significant as compared to silymarin. The liver histology evaluation mainly showed that in the group receiving nano-silymarin, a significant decrease in the percentage of fat vacuoles and degree of steatosis was observed compared to the negative group. In the positive group, the percentage of fat vacuoles and the degree of steatosis showed a significant decrease compared to the negative group. Group receiving atorvastatin showed a greater protective effect than silymarin and nano-silymarin.Conclusion: The use of nano-silymarin similar to silymarin in rats treated with a high-fat diet led to a decrease in the percentage of fat vacuoles and the degree of hepatic steatosis mainly and can be used to prevent non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.