Effect of Bulgarian Herb Extracts of Polyphenols on Metabolic Disorders - Induced by High-fructose Diet

Introduction Recently, fructose consumption has been suggested to be one of the environmental factors contributing to the development of insulin resistance, obesity, dislipidemia and other abnormalities of the metabolic syndrome. Aim Herbal extracts with established therapeutic efficiency in patients with obesity and diabetes have been traditionally used in Bulgarian ethnomedicine.This study investigated the protective effect of extract of selected Bulgarian herbs (high content of polyphenolsHerbal-Antiox 1) on high-fructose diet-induced metabolic disorders in rat liver. Material and methods: The animals were divided randomly into four groups (n=6); Control group ratsC; fructose-drinking ratsFRU (high-fructose corn syrup-12.5% fructose content); fructosedrinking rats treated with Herbal-Antiox-1 (HA-1)FRU+HA1;control group rats treated with Herbal-Antiox-1 (HA-1)-C+ HA1.Rats received 12.5% fructose solution in drinking water for 12 weeks, control rats were maintained on plain water. Phytochemical analysis and antioxidant capacity of the extract were determined. Results: We determine liver triglyceride (TG) concentration, body weight, liver weight, adipose tissue weight. In the FRU rat the levels of plasma glucose, liver TG as well liver and body weight were increased significantly. Herbal-Antiox-1 significantly reduced the hyperglicaemia, TG concentration and liver/body weight as well. In the control group Herbal-Antiox-1 had no effect on investigated parameters. In conclusion Herbal-Antiox -1 limits the accumulation of TG in liver, adipose tissue and contributes to reduction of body weight in rats .