Evaluation of the effects of rosmarinic acid on the oxidative stress and DNA damage in wistar rats submitted to hyperlipidic diet to induction of non acoholic fatty liver disease

• Grant number: 13/25519-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Raquel Alves dos Santos
• Grantee: Guilherme Cecilio Lima
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which hallmark is the accumulation of fat in the liver, has been described since 80's as the hepatic component of metabolic syndrome. NAFLD has progressed to epidemiological proportions and has multifactorial etiology with well defined environmental components. When this disease is not treated properly, it can result in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) characterized by the presence of fibrosis and inflammation. The presence of reactive oxygen species is an important characteristic of NAFLD that causes cellular liver damage, including the lipid peroxidation and DNA damage.The prevention as well as the treatment of NAFLD include the change of life style as a balanced diet and physical exercises; however the complete adherence to this treatment sometimes is not well succeed compromising the success of the treatment. Thus, the searching for therapeutic alternatives is of great interest. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound able to modulate the antioxidant defense. Therefore, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of RA on the oxidative and DNA damage in Wistar rats submitted to a hyperlipidic diet experimentally. For this purpose the histopatological analysis of liver tissue will be performed, as well the detection of the extension of DNA damage and levels of ±-tocopherol, reduced glutathione and tiobarbituric reactive substances.