Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become an epidemic with increasing prevalence. Limited treatment options and poor adherence emphasize the urgent need for novel therapies for the treatment and/or prevention of NAFLD. Bioactive natural compounds found in medicinal plants are promising as novel therapeutic agents for NAFLD. Chiliadenus iphionoides, a medicinal plant with several health-promoting properties, is an encouraging candidate. The current study aimed to elucidate the metabolic effects of C. iphionoides consumption in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced model of NAFLD. Male C57BL/6J mice (n = 40, 7-8-week-old) were fed a HFD (60% fat) with/without 0.5 or 2.5 gr C. iphionoides for fifteen weeks. Diet supplementation with C. iphionoides significantly ameliorated HFD-induced weight gain. Likewise, liver and adipose tissue weights were profoundly lower in the C. iphionoides-fed groups. Reduced liver steatosis in those groups was corroborated by histology, plasma liver enzyme levels, and lipid profile, indicating improved liver function and lipid metabolism in addition to enhanced insulin sensitivity. The addition of C. iphionoides to an obesogeneic diet can beneficially alleviate metabolic alterations and may be a practicable strategy for the management of NAFLD.