Effect of Ficus Carica Fruit Versus Atorvastatin on High Fat Diet Induced Hepatic Steatosis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ficus carica fruit (fig) and atorvastatin on high fat diet induced hepatic steatosis histologically.
Material and Methods: During this experimental study forty male Sprague dawley rats were randomly divided into five equal groups and were acclimatized for a duration of one week. Throughout the course of 12 week, normal control (NC) group was provided normal rat chow. The remaining four groups were induced hyperlipidaemia in 4 weeks duration. These rats were fed with high fat diet containing 1.5gm cholesterol, 8ml coconut oil and 1gm sodium cholate added per 100gm of standard rat chow diet. Disease control group (DC) was offered high fat diet continuously during the 12 weeks study period. On completion of 4 weeks Ficus carica ethanolic extract (FCE) and pulp of Ficus carica fruit (FCP) and standard hyperlipidemic agent, atorvastatin (ATO) were incorporated to the diet of three experimental animal groups respectively for next 8 weeks. All the animals were sacrificed at the end and their liver parenchymal slides were subsequently analysed for histopathology.
Results: Histopathological evaluation using (NASH) scoring showed that both pulp and ethanolic extract of Ficus carica fruit induced significant decrease in the fatty change of liver parenchyma.
Conclusion: This experimental study concludes that pulp of Ficus carica fruit has evident anti hyperlipidemic activity by reducing hepatic steatosis.