Effect of naringenin (citrus flavanone) on lipid profile in ethanol‐induced toxicity in rats

Our aim was to investigate the effect of naringenin on hyperlipidemia induced by ethanol. Groups 1 and 2 rats received isocaloric glucose and 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC); groups 3 and 4 received 20% (6 g/kg body weight p.o.) ethanol everyday for 60 days. Groups 2 and 4 rats received naringenin (50 mg/kg body weight/day in 0.5% CMC) everyday during the last 30 days of the experiment. There were increased levels of plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and tissue TC, TG, FFA, HMG CoA reductase and alterations in collagen content of ethanol‐fed rats, which on naringenin supplementation showed decreased levels of plasma and tissue TC, TG and FFA, HMG CoA reductase and collagen content. There was a significant decrease in the levels of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) of ethanol‐fed rats, which on naringenin supplementation showed an increase in the levels of HDL and LPL with ethanol alone–fed rats. Naringenin can efficiently prevent the accumulation of plasma lipids and lipoproteins. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Alcohol abuse, alcohol intolerance, alcohol dependence and other alcohol related disabilities are some of the most challenging public health problems. A phytotherapeutic approach in the new drug development can provide many valuable drugs from traditional plant sources. The use of herbal medicines for the treatment of hepatotoxicity has gained importance throughout the world. Renewed attention to alternative medicine and natural therapies has stimulated new wave of research interest in traditional practice, and there is a need to look for more potent agents with lesser side effects. The present study is aimed to identify the efficacy of naringenin by uncovering its underlying mechanism of action against alcohol‐induced liver disease for effective therapy. Naringenin, an important flavonoid, is widely present in fruits and vegetables. Naringenin is known to possess a number of significant beneficial properties. If the biochemical and histological findings are positive, indicating the marked hepatoprotective efficacy of naringenin, it could be subjected to human trials in the future.