Promising effect of Rosa damascena extract on high-fat diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver

NAFLD is a chronic liver disease that affects a high proportion of the world's population which causes metabolic and hepatic damages. Rosa damascena Mill is traditionally used as a dietary supplement for liver disorders. This study was carried out to determine the beneficial effect of standardized extract of R. damascena on animal model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in Wistar rats. HFD rats showed an increase (p < 0.05) in the plasma lipid levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and reduced the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. R. damascena significantly reduced the elevation of final body weight, liver fat accumulation, TG, TC, LDL-C concentrations and hepatic enzymes (p < 0.05). Histopathological examination of hepatic tissue confirmed the therapeutic effect of R. damascena. Improvement of total antioxidant power activity, total thiol content, MPO enzyme activity, and also lipid peroxidation were also considered in treated animals (p < 0.05). HPLC analysis showed that phenolic compounds including gallic acid, quercetin and syringic acid are the main bioactive compounds of R. damascena hydroalcoholic extract. In conclusion, R. damascena dietary supplementation has a therapeutic effect in NAFLD. Improvement of oxidative stress associated damage in liver tissue is among the main pharmacological mechanisms involved in therapeutic activity of the plant.