Bombax ceiba flowers extract ameliorates hepatosteatosis induced by ethanol and relatively moderate fat diet in rats

Chronic excessive alcohol consumption could induce serious liver injury. In this study, therapeutic effect of aqueous methanol extract of Bombax ceiba L. flowers (BCE) (Family: Bombacaceae) was investigated against hepatic steatosis. This study included seven groups, and the research period was eight weeks. The first group served as control. The six remaining groups were divided into two categories, three groups in each. The first category was fed fat diet. The second category was fed fat diet and orally administrated ethanol, which was given in graduate doses from 2 g/kg/d to 6 g/kg/d. Then, one group from each category was orally treated with the standard drug fluvastatin (2 mg/Kg/d). Another group was orally treated with BCE (200 mg/kg/d). The third group left untreated. The results revealed that BCE significantly decrease both the body and liver weight. The treatment with BCE extract also ameliorates the effect of alcohol induced increase of liver enzyme activities. In addition, the extract was significantly increased hepatic liver antioxidants and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Also, serum lipid profiles: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly decreased after BCE treatment. Histopathological study showed fatty changes induced by alcohol which were improved by BCE treatment. These data suggest that the BCE has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-steatosis potential properties against alcohol induced liver damage. This may be due to the presence of flavonoids and other phenol compounds.