The ultimate goal of this study is to investigate the bimolecular changes in a rat model of
high fat diet induced Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Also, the lipotropic,
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of spirulina platensis treatment were clarified
through the evaluation of certain biochemical and molecular parameters in the blood and
liver tissue of rats. Twenty one adult white albino rats were separated into three groups.
Group I (Normal control): received no drugs and balanced diet, Group II (NAFLD- induced
group): rats fed high fat diet for 8 weeks followed by normal basal ration feeding for another
8 weeks. Group III (NAFLD + spirulina): rats treated with spirulina orally at a dose of (150
mg/kg b.wt/day) for 8 weeks after induction of NAFLD. The obtained results showed a
significant increase in serum total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerols (TAG)
concentrations with significant up-regulation of liver gene expression TNF-α, IL-1β, NF-kβ,
PPAR-α, ACC, FAS and SREBT-1in NAFLD- induced rats. Also, various histopathological
alterations were detected in liver tissue of induced NAFLD rats. With spirulina treatment in
NAFLD-induced rats, parameters measured near the normal level of rats group (G1). Also,
spirulina potentially improved molecular hepatic function alterations related to NAFLD.
Interestingly, histopathological findings supported that spirulina markedly attenuates
harmful effects of NAFLD and protects liver tissue. We conclude that, spirulina has a great
role as antioxidant, anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory via inhibition of liver lipid metabolic
disturbance, steatosis and oxidative stress singling.