Biological and Biochemical Efficiency of Lyophilized Cranberry Extract on Regulation of Antioxidant Defense System in Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitic Rats

Cranberries are small, dark red fruits that are widely consumed as juice. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a condition that may progress to end-stage liver disease. Rats were classified into four groups as follows: normal control group, NASH rats fed high fat diet, nonalcoholic steatohepatitic rats fed high fat diet and received lyophilized powdered cranberry suspended in 0.5% CMC, group fed basal diet and received lyophilized powdered cranberry suspended in 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose CMC. The model of NASH rats elicited significant increase in serum lipid parameters: total cholesterol, total lipids, tricylglycerols and phospholipids, liver antioxidant enzyme activities with concomitant significant elevations in liver enzymes and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, in association with a reduction in reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, serum total protein and direct and total bilirubin. Administration of cranberry to NASH rats produced significant increases in tested antioxidant enzyme activities, G6PD and serum total protein, direct and total bilirubin concomitant with significant decreases in the levels of serum lipids as well as liver enzymes AST, ALT, ALP, GST and ɣ-GT. In addition, it was noted that NASH rats exhibited a degree of DNA fragmentation; however, oral administration of cranberry extract partially inhibited the DNA fragmentation.